Unicef, MILF sign action plan on child soldiers

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said compliance to the action plan signed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday to prevent the continued recruitment of child soldiers requires close follow-up.

Radhika Coomaraswamy welcomed the signing of the action plan, saying though that it will require close follow-up in collaboration with the country team and the continuous support of the international community for the sake of children.

The action plan sets out concrete, time-bound steps to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to release any children from any MILF units.

It also requires monitoring teams to have unimpeded access to the children and for former child soldiers to be re-integrated into civilian life.

 “The protection of children is a priority beyond any political or other agenda. It serves as proof positive of the impact of the Security Council’s involvement in this crucial issue,” Coomaraswamy said.

MILF agreed to the action plan, which conforms to the monitoring and reporting mechanism that resulted from a UN Security Council resolution in 2005.

The plan was drafted in collaboration with the UNICEF and the UN country team in the Philippines.

UNICEF Country Representative Vanessa Tobin said they consider the signing of the action plan with the MILF as a milestone.

The action plan was signed on Friday at the office of Ghazali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs of the MILF Central Committee, in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Principal signatories to the action plan were Tobin, Sammy Al Mansoor, chief of staff of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF); and Jackqui Babcock, UN resident coordinator in the Philippines.

Eid Kabalu, BIAF chief for civil-military relations; Natalie Mccauley Lamin, UNICEF chief of child protection; and Leon Dominador Fajardo, UNICEF child protection specialist-children and armed conflict, witnessed the signing.

Tobin said UNICEF will put up an office in Cotabato City. – Pia Lee-Brago