MILF stops recruitment of ‘child warriors’

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.

“Children affected by armed conflict are some of the most vulnerable children in the world. We need not look far, right here in the Philippines children are affected by armed conflict in different ways. They can be recruited as soldiers and engaged in direct combat, or as aides with seriously harmful consequences threatening their life and well-being. Let children be children let them play, go to school and live healthy and happy,” said UNICEF Philippine representative Lotta Sylwander.

One of the children, Fatimah (not her real name), 16, was forced to leave her home because of conflict.

“I don’t like it when people fight because children like me get caught in the middle. We get scared when we have to flee. I hope that war will stop so that our communities can live in peace and quiet,” Fatimah said.

The release of children associated with MILF allows them to receive appropriate support from government and development partners to enjoy all their rights to health, education and protection.

The MILF is also bound to institute safeguards through its command structure to regularly monitor and screen troops to prevent children from associating or re-associating.