July 11, 2020
The fifth coordination meeting of Preventing Violence Against Children in Armed Conflicts Committee was held at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement yesterday afternoon.
The committee was formed in January 2019 to carry out for ensuring the rights of children in line with the law.
In his opening remark, Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye stressed the need to review implementation of committee as there are some reports on grave violence against children in armed conflicts.
The committee has adopted 10 tasks to prevent violence and recruitment of child soliders.
He added the needs for legal support, as well as support in livelihood, mental and physical rehabilitation and medical treatment to the victims, effective collaboration with UN agencies such as UNICEF and UNDP as well as with CTMR.
Security forces and respective commands were also advised to enforce the set rules and directives to prevent grave violence against children while coordinating with Ministry of Information to publish the committee’s works.
Actions would be taken against six grave violations cases on the crime against the children if the investigations of Independent Commission of Enquiry of the President Office approved the cases, he said. He also welcomed the UN Secretary-General’s announcement on remaining Myanmar military from list of index in child soldier recruitment report.
Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye confirmed that children were among the victims in armed clashes in Rakhine State. Regarding accusations of lacking health care measures amdist COVID-19, he said the committee has been carrying out measures against COVID-19 since March there.
The secretary of the committee briefed on the progress and future plans of the committee, awareness programme for danger of landmines and establishment of help lines at the Rehabilitation Department.
The deputy minister discussed implementation of the 10 procedures more effectively, measures not to be enlisted in the index of child soldier recruitment report, preventing children from sexual harassment and protection of children in armed conflicts.
The meeting was attended by the officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, Ministry of Health and Sports, Union Attorney-General’s Office, Adjutant-General’s Office, Judge Advocate-General’s Office, Chief of Armed Forces Training Office, General Administration Department and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.—MNA (Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)
