I.Relevance and Adequacy of Existing Standards for the Protection of Children i.Protection of children BEFORE they get into armed conflicts 1.Nationally accepted minimum age of children for recruitment or participation in armed conflicts a.Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC) b.Convention on the Rights of Child c.Additional Protocol to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 2.International talks with the UN to agree action plans to end child recruitment use a.Security Council Resolution 1460 (2003) II. Protection of children DURING armed conflicts 1.Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) a.Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) b.Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict III.Protection of Children AFTER they are released from armed conflicts 1.The Paris Commitments and Principles 2.Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs IV. Implementation of Standards and Monitoring of Violence a.Gaps between these standards and their implementation V.Specific Recommendations on Standards a.Contribute to treaty reporting b.Provide follow-up to the recommendations of treaty bodies c.Promote and disseminate information on the rights of the child