Committee holds meeting on children and armed conflicts

THE Committee for Preventing Grave Violations against Children in Armed Conflicts held its first meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on 21 January.

Speaking at the meeting, the chairman of the committee and Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement, Dr. Win Myat Aye explained the main reason why Myanmar has formed the committee. The country, which is seeing armed conflicts, needs to protect children from violence, he said.

While making efforts for peace through negotiation at the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong, Myanmar, under the seven agreements reached for the basic principles for Union Accord, is working for the rights of children, following the UN Convention on child rights for the development of children, and elimination of six types of violence against children in armed conflicts.

The bill amending the 1993 Myanmar Child Rights Law is expected to be enacted soon, said the Union Minister.

The new law guarantees punishments for the six types of violence against children in armed conflicts.

The committee is tasked with 10 duties and will draw and implement works for reaching its objectives, in accordance with the law and polices, and in conformity with international norms, said the Union Minister. He said the efforts of the committee must be made public through the local and international media.

Thereafter, participants at the meeting took part in sector-wise discussions.

The meeting came to an end with participants deciding to establish a work committee, hold a coordination meeting every two months, and cooperate with concerned UN agencies and the Country Task Force for Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR).

MNA

(Translated by AMS)

Photo: MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar