A/HRC/39/49 contracted through a private company to guard United States military facilities in Iraq might make $600 a month, with much of it owed back to the brokers and middlemen who helped him get from Africa to Mesopotamia. The Ugandan could also be fined by his supervisor up to $100 for lying, sleeping on duty or some other infraction. A supervisor who was a United States citizen might make $20,000 a month, tax free and with benefits, while in Iraq.21 44. Among various issues related to former child soldiers and private military and security companies, the Working Group stresses that, in the vetting process, recruiting companies should distinguish those individuals who have committed war crimes or human rights violations when they were associated with armed groups from those who were not responsible for crimes that were committed. While individuals who have committed war crimes or human rights violations are not suitable for security services, it is essential to fight against stigmatization and discrimination to ensure that individuals who have not been convicted of any crime, but have merely formerly associated with armed groups, have access to the job market. The Working Group emphasizes that States are obliged to provide appropriate social reintegration, including vocational training, and psychological recovery services for former child soldiers (see Committee on the Rights of the Child general comment No. 16). 45. Taking into consideration the violent experiences to which children are exposed during their association with armed groups, to assist their psychological recovery it is crucial to avoid subjecting them to situations where they are at risk of being re-traumatized. Research shows that the cascades of defence mechanisms that a survivor has gone through during the traumatic event can replay themselves whenever the fear network, which has evolved peritraumatically, is reactivated by internal or external triggers. 22 Thus security related tasks with private military and security companies should not be considered as appropriate for children who have been associated with armed groups. Job openings such as administrative, logistics and other general supporting service posts at private military and security companies might attract former child soldiers, especially those who do not have alternative opportunities. Nevertheless, the Working Group is of the view that, although these job opportunities could be a form of reintegration of former child soldiers, they should only be considered as a last resort. H. Responses to children associated with non-State armed groups 46. In April 1997, as part of the effort to address the issue of children serving in armed forces, non-governmental organizations and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held a symposium in Cape Town, South Africa, to develop strategies for preventing recruitment of child soldiers into the armed forces and for demobilizing child soldiers and helping them reintegrate into society. The Cape Town Principles and Best Practice on the Prevention of Recruitment of Children into the Armed Forces and Demobilization and Social Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Africa were the outcome of this symposium. 47. Building upon the Cape Town Principles and Best Practices, in 2007 UNICEF and the Government of France co-hosted the International Conference on Children involved in Armed Forces and Armed Groups: Free Children from War. During this conference, the Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups were developed to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups. The principles and guidelines were intended to influence the behaviour of a broad range of actors, including States, military and security actors (State and non-State), human rights actors, humanitarian actors, development actors and associated organizations, including United Nations organizations, other intergovernmental actors, national and international organizations and community-based organizations. While some of these actors have a specific mandate or role in relation to children, all have a role to play and broad 21 22 12 Peter Van Buren, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People (New York, Metropolitan Books, 2012). Schauer and Elbert, “The psychological impact of child soldiering”.