A/67/256
the Transitional Federal Government committed itself to signing and implementing
an action plan to end the recruitment and use of children by its forces. The Special
Representative also met the Force Commander of the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM), who reiterated the Mission’s commitment to protecting
civilians, and children in particular, during its operations. He pledged to continue to
provide maximum support for efforts to identify and separate children from the
forces of the Transitional Federal Government, including through the appointment
of a child protection adviser in AMISOM.
35. The Special Representative travelled to South Sudan to assess the situation of
children affected by conflict. She met the President, Salva Kirr, senior Government
officials and other United Nations and civil society partners. She travelled to
Malakal and Renk, where she visited refugee camps and met South Sudanese
returning from the Sudan. She witnessed the signature of an updated action plan to
end the recruitment and use of children by the South Sudanese armed forces, which
will continue to implement the action plan initially signed in 2009, before
independence, with United Nations support. She also advocated the educational
rights of children in South Sudan, where currently only 4 per cent of young people
are enrolled in secondary education. She stressed the importance of according
priority to education in Government and donor budget allocations.
36. In June 2012, the Special Representative travelled to Myanmar to sign an
action plan with the Government for the release of children associated with the
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw). The action plan provides for the release,
verified by the United Nations, of children associated with the armed forces and
prevention of further recruitment; the strengthening of recruitment procedures;
awareness-raising; the strengthening of disciplinary action against perpetrators;
access to military bases, prisons and other places where children may be; and
reintegration. Of particular significance is the Government’s agreement to add
specific provisions allowing access to non-State actors who have signed, or are in
the process of signing, peace agreements with the Government so that they are able
to prepare similar action plans to halt child recruitment and use. The Special
Representative met Government officials, including the President and the ministers
of defence, labour and social affairs, and foreign affairs, in addition to the presidents
of the upper and lower houses. She also met representatives of United Nations
entities, members of the diplomatic community and civil society and children
formerly associated with the armed forces.
2.
Advocacy in relation to the Lord’s Resistance Army
37. Over the past year, unprecedented attention has been paid to the LRA issue. In
June 2012, the Secretary-General issued his first report on the situation of children
and armed conflict affected by LRA (S/2012/365). Building on that momentum, to
deepen awareness of the impact of the armed group on children, the Office of the
Special Representative co-hosted an event with the Permanent Mission of Germany
to the United Nations and the International Peace Institute that featured the
participation of the Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United
Nations and Grace Akallo, an activist and LRA survivor. Other activities to raise
awareness of the LRA issue included a press conference on the report of the
Secretary-General and public statements on the handling of captured LRA
commanders.
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