213 minors disengaged from SDF ranks in Syria’s northeast: Child Protection Office
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – We continue to bring back the minors who joined the military forces at different times to their families, Khaled Jabr, co-chair of the Child Protection Office in Armed Conflicts in Hasakah, northeast Syria, said on Thursday.
“We work in accordance with the UN decisions and the international laws related to disengagement children from the military forces, Jabr added.
Since it was created in October 2020, 213 children have been disengaged from the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to Jabr.
He pointed out that the office is working with all its energy to block the way for any actions or behaviors that may harm children.
The office follows up the received complaints by children’s families and accordingly it communicates with the military units, Jabr noted.
He pointed out that the military units of the SDF cooperate with us regarding returning the minors to their families.
After being disengaged from the military units, the children are followed up through integrating them in the society and getting them back to school, according to Jabr.
There are reasons behind pushing those minors to join the military forces, whether at home or the street, Jabr stated.
Since last year, the Child Protection Office in Armed Conflicts has established its offices in all cities in northeast Syria after an agreement signed by the SDF Commander-in-Chief, Mazloum Abdi, with the United Nations to prevent the recruitment of children and keep them away from war.
With the approval of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the SDF signed a joint action plan with the United Nations, to end and prevent the recruitment of children under the age of eighteen.
The SDF is committed to ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children, disengaging those who are currently in its ranks, and setting preventive and disciplinary measures in terms of the recruitment and use of children.