Child Protection Office in NE Syria hands over minor to his family
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, a minor was brought back to his family by the Child Protection Office in Armed Conflicts in Hasakah, northeast Syria, in coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The SDF handed over a 16-year-old minor to our office in Hasakah, and we, in turn, contacted his family and handed him over to them, Khaled Jabr, co-chair of the Child Protection Office in Armed Conflicts, said.
“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, 214 children have been disengaged from the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to Jabr.
The office follows up the received complaints by children’s families and accordingly it communicates with the military units, Jabr earlier said.
He pointed out that the military units of the SDF cooperate with them 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.
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.