New York, Aug 5 (Xinhua) The UN Security Council has stepped up its efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict by adopting a resolution expanding a list of offenders who are subject to possible sanctions.

Resolution 1882, which was adopted Tuesday by the 15-member body unanimously, strongly condemned 'all violations of applicable international law involving the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict'.

It requested UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to include in his list submitted to the Council those who kill, maim, rape or commit other forms of sexual violence against children in wartime. Past lists mainly included those who were accused of recruiting child soldiers.

The resolution called on those parties on the secretary-general's so-called 'list of shame' to prepare 'concrete and time-bound action plans to halt those violations and abuses'.

In addition, the resolution 'calls upon concerned member states to take decisive and immediate action against persistent perpetrators of violations and abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict', and to bring them to justice.

An important aspect of the expanded listing criteria is the Council's empowerment of the UN on the ground to enter into dialogue with armed forces and groups on action plans to halt these violations and to bring perpetrators to account.