A new agreement to eliminate child soldiers and institute measures to protect children caught in conflict zones in Myanmar has been signed by Swiss based Geneva Call and several ethnic armed groups.
The non-governmental organization (NGO), which works to engage armed non-state actors to adhere to international human rights laws, signed a deed commitment with Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP). Geneva Call’s Senior Programme Officer Chris Rush said the signing of the deed is just the beginning. The deed highlights sixteen main points related to these issues.
The NMSP met with Rush in Thailand on Nov.5 to discuss future plans. The Mon political party is currently preparing protection laws for child soldiers in their party’s constitution, according to NMSP Foreign and Ally Liaison Office head, Nai Hong Sar Bonkhaing. NMSP plans to implement these new laws into the constitution during the party conference in 2015.
NMSP and KNPP are the first armed non-state actors in Myanmar to become signatories of Geneva Call’s ‘Deed of Commitment for the Protection of Children from the Effects of Armed Conflict’. However it remains to be seen whether they measures will be practiced by ethnic armed groups.
Geneva Call plans to provide training with NMSP this coming January.
