A/66/256 35. Where armed forces and groups are merged, or demobilized and reintegrated as part of a peace agreement, there is a need to ensure, as a first step in any security sector reform process, that children who may be associated with the parties are separated. The initial stage in such situations is often the registration of combatants. Measures must be systematically put in place to effect age verification or, where reliable State-managed data on birth dates are not available, to establish a solid method of for age determination. However, separating children from armed forces and groups should not be dependent on security sector reform plans. Recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is a violation of international law; there is a normative imperative for children to be identified and separated, inter alia in the context of the action plans mentioned earlier. 36. Awareness-raising and training on child protection is critical to strengthening accountability and respect for human rights within the security forces. Such training must be administered to all actors in the security sector and should cover the international and national normative framework and its application, as well as the care and treatment of children in conflict with the law. 37. Ultimately, ensuring that security institutions uphold and practice child protection is a long-term endeavour, requiring dedicated and focused efforts on the part of national actors: the Government, legislative bodies, the judiciary and civil society. It is through a partnership between national actors, with international support, that child protection can be mainstreamed into the security sector. C. Protecting education in armed conflict 38. In her previous reports, the Special Representative has consistently noted with concern the increasing trend of attacks on education. Such acts include the partial or total destruction of schools and other education facilities and threatened or actual targeting of education personnel. Attacks on education undermine the establishment of a protective environment for children and their chances for a better future. In addition, violent attacks on girls and targeted attacks on their education undermine their role in society and prevent them from exercising their rights. 39. The reporting period has seen progress in terms of protective measures for education and the rights of children to education. Greater international attention led to the creation in 2010 of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, composed of United Nations agencies and NGOs. It has helped prevent attacks on education; develop effective response to attacks; improve knowledge, monitoring and reporting; and advocate for international norms and standards and increased accountability. In March 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published an innovative report highlighting the impact of armed conflict on education. 1 The Special Representative welcomes these initiatives and looks forward to working closely with the Global Coalition, UNESCO and other concerned partners to enhance protection from attacks on education. 40. Following the adoption by the General Assembly of its groundbreaking resolution 64/290 on the right to education in emergency situations, the Security __________________ 1 11-44370 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, The Hidden Crisis: Armed Conflict and Education (Paris, 2011). 9