<Tr> <Th> Depositary </Th> <Td> UN Secretary - General </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Languages </Th> <Td> Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict at Wikisource </Td> </Tr> <P> The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) is a multilateral treaty whereby states agree to: 1) prohibit the conscription into the military of children under the age of 18; 2) ensure that military recruits are no younger than 16; and 3) prevent recruits aged 16 or 17 from taking a direct part in hostilities . The treaty also forbids non-state armed groups from recruiting anyone under the age of 18 for any purpose . </P>

Optional protocol on the rights of the child in armed conflict