in their countries of origin and travelled abroad to join a designated terrorist group, the Optional Protocol requires the country of origin to assist in their recovery and reintegration. In addition, the Optional Protocol requires international cooperation on the rehabilitation and social integration of children recruited and used in hostilities, including through technical 293 cooperation and financial assistance. 150. Social reintegration involves the right of all children who have been recruited and used by armed groups, regardless of the group to which they may have been affiliated.294 Initiatives should be holistic and avoid stigmatizing or discriminating against individuals or groups of children and should include family and community members.295 Member States should proactively engage with children associated with armed groups living outside the country when developing rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. terrorism, and to do so taking into account gender and age sensitivities”.297 The Council recognized the particular importance of providing, through a wholeof-government approach, timely and appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance to “children associated with foreign terrorist fighters returning or relocating from conflict zones”, including through access to health care, psychosocial support and education programs that contribute to the well-being of children and to sustainable peace and security.298 The Council further encouraged Member States to develop appropriate legal safeguards to ensure that prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies are in full compliance with their international law obligations, including in cases involving children.299 151. In its resolution 2396 (2017) the Security Council emphasized that “children associated with foreign terrorist fighters returning or relocating to and from conflict may have served in many different roles, including as supporters, facilitators, or perpetrators of terrorist acts, and require special focus when developing tailored prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies”.296 The Council also stressed the importance of assisting “children associated with foreign terrorist fighters who may be victims of 293 Ibid., art. 7. 294 Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), art. 39. 295 See, for example, United Nations, 5.30 Children and DDR: Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards (2006). Available at http://unddr.org/uploads/documents/IDDRS%205.30%20Children%20and%20 DDR.pdf; Security Council resolution 1261 (1999) on children and armed conflict. 296 Security Council resolution 2396 (2017), para. 31. 68. 297 Ibid. 298 Ibid., para. 36 299 Ibid., para. 37.