By Jose Rodel Clapano
MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stopped yesterday the recruitment of children after they released youths associated with the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Women’s Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB).
It is part of a series of ceremonies that will eventually disengage around 1,858 children who were formally or informally associated with the armed wing of the MILF.
The United Nations, through its children’s agency UNICEF, facilitated this process in line with the UN-MILF Action Plan on addressing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in Mindanao.
The UN-MILF Action Plan, signed in 2009 and extended in 2013, signifies the commitment of the rebel group to end the recruitment and use of children.
The training initiatives for the BIAF and communities living in core MILF base command areas were the requirement to understand and accept the questionable recruitment and use of children.
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