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prohibiting the use of children, including in support roles, and outlining sanctions
for perpetrators was issued and disseminated. Pilot child pro tection units in the
national police in four provinces also reportedly prevented more than 400 children
from enlisting, indicating the potential for considerable impact if such units are
replicated across the country. Expanding the pilot child protection u nits to other
areas was highlighted to the Government of Afghanistan in July 2015 on the basis of
the most recent report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in
Afghanistan (S/2015/336).
29. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite security challenges, the
Government consistently demonstrated its commitment with regard to the
implementation of the action plan signed with the United Nations in 2012 to end
the recruitment and use of children and sexual violence against children. Efforts
included funding and chairing joint coordination mechanisms and ensuring their
decentralization to conflict-affected provinces. The President also nominated a
personal adviser on sexual violence and child recruitment. Moreover, a newly
promulgated amnesty law excluded the crimes of recruitment of children and sexual
violence from amnesty. Progress is also being made on the fight against impunity,
with the arrest, prosecution and sentencing of high ranking perpetrators of grave
violations against children.
30. In Myanmar, the implementation of the action plan has resulted in the release
of hundreds of child recruits from the armed forces of Myanmar (Tatmadaw). The
collaboration between the United Nations and the Government includes regular
reviews, training sessions and increased monitoring access to Tatmadaw facilities.
Despite the progress, children continue to be found in the Tatmadaw ’s ranks and are
sometimes deployed to the front line.
31. As outlined in the previous report to the General Assembly (A/69/212), the
delisting of the Armée nationale tchadienne was another important milestone for the
campaign. The protection of children requires ongoing efforts, howeve r, particularly
in the light of the role of Chad in the Multinational Joint Task Force. For instance,
the Government of Chad, the United Nations and non-governmental organization
partners are still working to address long-term needs regarding the establishment of
a universal birth registration system, the adoption of a child protection law and
measures to institutionalize age verification processes.
32. Despite the progress in the campaign highlighted above, in Yemen and South
Sudan the intensification of conflict reversed previous gains and presented serious
challenges for future engagement.
33. It is important to highlight that the achievements of the campaign to end the
recruitment of children in government forces will also help in addressing
recruitment and use by non-State armed groups. Of the 49 non-State armed groups
in the annexes to the most recent annual report of the Secretary -General on children
and armed conflict (A/69/926-S/2015/409), 32 are present in the seven remaining
campaign countries. As noted above, the aim of the campaign is to assist the
Member States concerned in developing their legal frameworks, including the
criminalization of the recruitment of children, and to provide their national
institutions with tools and mechanisms to build capacity, which can be used to
address and respond to violations by non-State armed groups.
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