Media advisory: First ever signing of a Joint Action Plan between the UN CTFMR and an Ethnic Armed Organization, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children

WHAT: Virtual signing ceremony of a bilateral joint action plan (JAP) between the UN Country Task Force of Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) on grave violations against children in Myanmar and an Ethnic Armed Organisation, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children.

WHO: Co-chairs of the CTFMR, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ola Almgren UNICEF Representative to Myanmar, June Kunugi, and General Saw Mu Shay of the DKBA will sign the joint action plan witnessed by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba. The virtual event will also be attended by the Chairman of the Peace Commission of the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre, Dr Tin Myo Win, diplomatic corps and UN agencies.

WHEN: 09.00am -10.00am (GMT+6:30) Friday 20 November 2020.

WHERE: The signing ceremony will take place virtually. Video recording of the event and a press release will be shared with media after the event.

WHY: The JAP is aimed at preventing the recruitment and use of children, for which the DKBA has been listed in the UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict AAC since 2013. However, the JAP will also seek to sustainably prevent all grave violations more broadly. It is hoped that this ground-breaking event will set an important precedent, encouraging broader engagement of ethnic armed groups and signature and implementation of further JAPs with the other Ethnic Armed Organizations also listed in the annexes of the Secretary-General's Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict.

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Note to Editors

Report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (2020) https://bit.ly/2UDB1FB

Video of the Open Debate of UN Security Council on Children and Armed Conflict https://bit.ly/3pBqXuS