UNICEF to orient MILF on ‘child warriors’

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 30): UNICEF to orient MILF on ‘child warriors’

Philippine-based experts from a United Nations agency will orient Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders on the issue of “child warriors” in pursuit of an earlier agreed action plan.

The orientation will be held at the MILF headquarters at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao tomorrow, the UNICEF said in a statement.

The interventions will be conducted by Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF-Philippines representative, and the agency’s five-member panel chaired by Eduard Guerra.

The event is part of “MILF’s commitment to the Action Plan signed with UNICEF in 2009” that calls for a series of orientations on the front’s “role and responsibility to prevent and address the association of children with the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF),” agency media liaison Jingjing Romero said.

“The action plan commits the MILF to concrete, time-bound activities pertaining to the prevention of recruitment, and support for the separation of any children under 18(years old) from the command structure; and unimpeded access for UN verification, and awareness raising on child rights and child protection for its military rank and file, as well as MILF communities,” Romero said.

There is no exact number of minors from among the MILF’s estimated 11,000 combatants even as the UNICEF stressed that “armed conflict (is) a grievous assault on child rights.”

http://www.mb.com.ph/unicef-to-orient-milf-on-child-warriors/