A/HRC/7/78 page 89 V. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AFFECTED BY ARMED CONFLICT 38. Strongly condemns any recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts contrary to international law, and urges all parties to armed conflict to end such practice, and all other violations and abuses committed against children, including killing or maiming, rape or other sexual violence, abduction, denial of humanitarian access, attacks against schools and hospitals and the forced displacement of children and their families; 39. Reaffirms the essential role of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, including children affected by armed conflict, and takes note of Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, in particular resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, and of the undertaking by the Council to give special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of children in armed conflict when taking action aimed at maintaining peace and security, including provisions for the protection of children in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, as well as the inclusion of child protection advisers in those operations; 40. Notes with appreciation the steps taken regarding Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 and the efforts of the Secretary-General to implement the monitoring and reporting mechanism, including in collecting and providing timely, objective, accurate and reliable information on children and armed conflict in accordance with that resolution, with the participation of and in cooperation with national Governments and relevant United Nations and civil society actors, including at the country level, as well as the work carried out by United Nations child protection advisers in peacekeeping operations; 41. Takes note of the updating of the Cape Town Principles on child soldiers that led to the Paris Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups, encourages Member States to consider using the Guidelines to inform their work in protecting children from the effects of armed conflicts, and requests the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, and invites civil society, to assist Member States in this field; 42. Takes note of part two of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (A/62/228), on the strategic review of the 1996 study by Graça Machel entitled “Impact of armed conflict on children”, and of the significant developments and achievements in the protection of children in armed conflict at the national and international levels, and calls upon Member States and observers, and invites relevant entities of the United Nations system as well as civil society, as appropriate, to study carefully its recommendations, recognizing the need for discussion on the issues raised therein, and stresses the need for the views of Member States to be fully taken into account in this regard; 43. Recalls, in accordance with international humanitarian law, that indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including children, are prohibited, and that they shall not be the object of attack, including by the way of reprisals or excessive use of force, condemns these practices and demands that all parties immediately put an end to them; 44. Calls upon all States to pay special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of girls affected by armed conflict;