[Myanmar] Ethnic Armed Groups Agree Not To Use Child Soldiers

The Karenni National Progressive Party and the New Mon State Party have signed an agreement with Swiss NGO Geneva Call to stop using child soldiers, according to a report by the Phophtaw news agency. The two groups are the first armed non-state actors in Burma to become signatories of Geneva Call’s “Deed of Commitment for the Protection of Children from the Effects of Armed Conflict.†Chris Rush, the NGO’s senior program officer, said the signing of the deed is just the first step. Geneva Call works to engage armed non-state actors to adhere to international human rights laws.