HUMAN RIGHTS MODULE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL Article 38 Governments 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. No child under the age of fifteen years shall be recruited into the armed forces. Article 39 Governments have the obligation to ensure that children who are victims of an armed conflict, torture, neglect, abuse or exploitation must receive appropriate treatment to help them recover their health and social life. Article 40 Every child who infringes the penal law has the right to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s sense of dignity and worth, and which takes into account the child’s age and the desirability of promoting the child’s reintegration in society. The child has the right to basic guarantees, legal assistance or other assistance for his or her defence. 146