The following Statement by Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict was published on the Special Representative’s website, 19 March 2025.

Virginia Gamba

The release of 93 individuals recruited as children by the Myanmar Armed Forces is a noteworthy step towards the full implementation of the 2012 joint action plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children signed between the Myanmar Armed Forces and the United Nations Country Task Force for Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR). It must now be accompanied by the adoption of protection measures under the joint action plan. I reiterate the call of the Secretary-General for all parties to conflict in Myanmar to end and prevent grave violations against children, including the recruitment and use, ensure accountability and uphold their responsibilities under international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

I underscore the importance of the issuance of official discharge certificates by the Myanmar Armed Forces to all 93 individuals identified with the CTFMR in this joint process. I also note the commitment made by the Myanmar Armed Forces that these releases are unconditional—including for those absent without leave—and that discharged individuals will not face penalties. Reintegration support must be comprehensive and sustained, with strong community and family engagement to ensure an effective transition back to civilian life.

I remain deeply concerned by the ongoing high levels of grave violations committed by all parties to the conflict, in particular by the Myanmar Armed Forces, including related forces and affiliated militias. I am particularly concerned by the continued recruitment and use of large numbers of children by the Myanmar Armed Forces, and I urge them to continue their engagement with the United Nations in the framework of the joint action plan to end this practice. I am deeply concerned by the number of children in detention on allegations of association with armed groups, and I call on the Myanmar Armed Forces to immediately release children, implement the July 2019 Child Rights Law and act in line with international juvenile justice standards.

The Myanmar Armed Forces remain listed for multiple grave violations beyond child recruitment and use. I reiterate the call of the Secretary-General for the Myanmar Armed Forces to adopt a joint action plan with the United Nations to end and prevent killing and maiming, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and abductions. These abuses against children must cease immediately and concrete measures must be taken to prevent grave violations and ensure accountability.

I also call on all armed groups to end and prevent the recruitment of children, attacks on schools and hospitals and protected persons as well as their military use, and to facilitate safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access to all children. All parties to the conflict should engage meaningfully with the United Nations to urgently develop, adopt and implement concrete child protection measures to prevent grave violations against children.

The United Nations remains committed to the protection of all children in Myanmar and to support efforts by all parties towards this shared goal, including through facilitating the reintegration of children affected by the conflict. Concrete measures that permanently eradicate child recruitment and use is the only way to ensure sustainable protection for all children in Myanmar.