UN welcomes Myanmar's release of children from armed forces

08 July 2013: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday, welcomed the release of 68 children and young people from Myanmar's armed forces known as Tatmadaw, carried out under the auspices of an accord between the Government and the world body. “I have always said the military is not a place for a child to grow up. We are very happy for the children and young people being discharged today,” said the UN Resident Coordinator for Myanmar, Ashok Nigam. “We congratulate them and wish them and their families well as they reunite.” Wednesday’s release follows the discharge of 42 children in September 2012, 24 children in February, and a further 42 children and young people in July. We welcome the release and further encourage the Myanmar Government and the Tatmadaw to continue accelerating identification and registration, so that all children are discharged as a matter of urgency. Nigam said this was “a positive step towards the commitment by the Myanmar Government under the Action Plan to prevent and end the recruitment or use of children by the Tatmadaw.”
UNICEF Myanmar's Deputy Representative in Yangon, Shalini Bahuguna, noted that the latest release is the largest since the Myanmar signed the Action Plan with the UN Country Taskforce in June last year.
Source: UN