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2. States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age
of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities.
3. States Parties shall refrain from recruiting any person who has not attained the age of fifteen years
into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years
but who have not attained the age of eighteen years, States Parties shall endeavour to give priority to
those who are oldest.
4. In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian
population in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and
care of children who are affected by an armed conflict.
Article 39
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and
social reintegration of a child victim of: any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture or any
other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed conflicts. Such recovery
and reintegration shall take place in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity
of the child.
Article 40
1. States Parties recognize the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having
infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of
dignity and worth, which reinforces the child's respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms
of others and which takes into account the child's age and the desirability of promoting the child's
reintegration and the child's assuming a constructive role in society.
2. To this end, and having regard to the relevant provisions of international instruments, States Parties
shall, in particular, ensure that:
(a) No child shall be alleged as, be accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law by
reason of acts or omissions that were not prohibited by national or international law at the time they
were committed;
(b) Every child alleged as or accused of having infringed the penal law has at least the following
guarantees:
(i) To be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law;
(ii) To be informed promptly and directly of the charges against him or her, and, if appropriate,
through his or her parents or legal guardians, and to have legal or other appropriate assistance in the
preparation and presentation of his or her defence;
(iii) To have the matter determined without delay by a competent, independent and impartial authority
or judicial body in a fair hearing according to law, in the presence of legal or other appropriate
assistance and, unless it is considered not to be in the best interest of the child, in particular, taking
into account his or her age or situation, his or her parents or legal guardians;
(iv) Not to be compelled to give testimony or to confess guilt; to examine or have examined adverse
witnesses and to obtain the participation and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under
conditions of equality;
(v) If considered to have infringed the penal law, to have this decision and any measures imposed in
consequence thereof reviewed by a higher competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial
body according to law;