Don Rono, consultant from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) based in Bangkok, Thailand visited the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on October 15, 2015.

He was welcomed by BDA executive director Mohammad S. Yacob together with the member of the five-man panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) tasked for the implementation of the United Nations-MILF (UN-MILF) Action Plan on child protection.

Accordingly, the meeting was in line with the 6^th phase implementation of the action plan.

It was reported that UNICEF intends to undertake a mapping of needs and available services that could support the integration of children informally associated with armed groups and children at risk of being recruited and used in MILF Base Command areas.

Edward Guerra, chairman of MILF 5-men panel explained that the action plan serves as the guide towards the campaign on child protection, specifically non-recruitment of children in armed groups.

He said that this 6^th phase of implementation is crucial, which is the separation of children informally associated in the combatants.

“We say informally because the MILF has no official structure for children in the BIAF. But these camps of BIAF are community-based wherein the combatants live with their family and children. So, their children have seen their father as a member of the BIAF”, Guerra further explained.

Guerra also emphasized that they are to re-align the line of thinking of the children so that they will not be encouraged to join as combatant in armed conflict or any role.

Also in the meeting were BDA focal person on UN-MILF Action Plan Lemia Nando, other officials from UNICEF: Shree Nadarajah and Sitti Rajabia Monato.