(b) To participate constructively in the negotiations on an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts with the aim of an early agreement on the text and of the adoption of a higher standard of protection than the present one contained in article 38 of the Convention, recalling that the original draft used as a basis for the negotiations was prepared by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (E/CN.4/1994/91, annex) and taking into account the report of the working group on its fourth session; (c) In accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law, to integrate in their military programmes, including those for peacekeeping, instruction on responsibilities towards the civilian population, particularly women and children; (d) And relevant United Nations bodies, including the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance, to contribute on an ongoing basis to international mine-clearance efforts, urges States to take stronger action to promote gender- and age-appropriate mine-awareness programmes and childcentred rehabilitation, thereby reducing the number and the plight of child victims, welcomes increased international efforts in various forums with respect to anti-personnel mines, recognizes the positive effect on children of those efforts, and in this regard takes due note of the adoption of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, opened for signature in Ottawa in 1997, and its implementation by those States that become parties to it, as well as of the amended Protocol II on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, of 1996; 12. Calls upon all States and other parties to armed conflict: (a) To respect international humanitarian law, and in this regard calls upon States parties to respect fully the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977, while bearing in mind resolution 2 of the twenty-sixth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent of 1995 entitled “Protection of the civilian population in period of armed conflict”, and to respect the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which accord children affected by armed conflict special protection and treatment; (b) To end the use of children as soldiers and ensure their demobilization, and to implement effective measures for the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of child soldiers, child victims in cases of armed conflict or foreign occupation, including victims of landmines and all other weapons, and victims of gender-based violence, inter alia through adequate education and training, and invites the international community to assist in this endeavour; (c) As well as United Nations agencies, to ensure access of humanitarian aid and assistance to children affected by armed conflict; page 7