IN PHOTO-(Left)-Ola Almgren of UNICEF with MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (Right) during the visit of U.N. Officials commending the MILF for removing child soldiers from its rank
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday received a commendation from UNICE-Philippines for removing 1,869 children from its ranks, Inquirer.net reported on December 04.
For complying with U.N.’s international law on banning children from engaging in combat during conflict, the MILF was also delisted from the annexes of the Secretary General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, said the report by Inquirer.net.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia Gamba, and UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Ola Almgren congratulated the MILF for promoting and protecting the rights of children, Inquirer.net also said in its report.
“Today (Monday), we mark an important milestone for the boys, and girls of the Philippines. The Joint Action Plan between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the United Nations on the issue of recruitment, and use of children has now been fully implemented.
As a result, I am very happy to announce that the MILF has been delisted from the annexes of the Secretary General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict. I would like to congratulate the MILF for completing the action plan with the support of the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting.
This achievement is the result of a sustained commitment by the MILF with United Nations support”, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia Gamba said in her congratulatory message as quoted by Inquirer.net.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict serves as the leading UN advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.
It can be recalled that the UN-MILF began working together by signing of an Action Plan between the United Nations, and the MILF in 2009 with Sammy Al-Mansor, Chief of Staff of BIAF-MILF, Architect Edward Guerra, and Toks Ebrahim as MILF’s counterpart in the planning and completion of the UN-MILF Action Plan.
The Action Plan was completed in 2017 upon the fulfilment of a six-point roadmap, resulting in the disengagement 1,869 children from the ranks of the MILF.
After their disengagement, the children will have access to appropriate support, and services from government, and development partners to enjoy all their rights to health, education and protection.
“The United Nations country team in the Philippines welcomes this important milestone achieved by the MILF, in demonstrating its commitment to the protection and welfare of children,” the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Mr. Ola Almgren, shared in his message.
“In line with the UN package of existing programs to support the normalization track of the peace negotiations between the Government and the MILF, the UN stands ready to support the relevant plans for the disengaged children and their communities,” Mr. Almgren added.
UNICEF- Philippines Representative, Officer-in-Charge, Julia Rees said, “We congratulate the MILF as they reach this important milestone. Children are zones of peace and their rights must be promoted and protected at all times. Unicef’s support to the MILF continues to ensure that disengaged children and their communities live in safe environments, by facilitating access to psychosocial support and other protection, social welfare, education and health services. In addition, UNICEF supports parents in providing family based guidance and care.
In response, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chairman of MILF reiterated MILF’s commitment to protect and promote the rights of children in their communities.
Al Haj Murad also emphasized that, “The MILF has been candid enough to admit that compelling situations in the past brought about by war, nay even existential moments, has unfortunately forced children to a situation where their services, though not necessarily military, are of such a character as to appear as such.”
“MILF has worked for years in partnership with the UN, and we are pleased at being delisted in the 2017 Secretary General’s report and to be recognized here today by our UN country partners,” said Eduard Guerra, former Chair of UN-MILF Action Plan Panel and currently the Co-chair of Joint Normalization Committee – MILF, “MILF will keep up the commitment and the work to protect and promote the inherent rights of every child in our community. Together we will work toward ensuring a peaceful environment and a fair chance for children to enjoy their childhood while having access to education and other essential social services critical for their growth and wellbeing,” added Mr. Guerra.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1114/un-commends-milf-for-disengaging-child-soldiers-from-its-ranks
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