Child Protection Office in Syria’s AANES returns minor to family
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – The Child Protection Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), in cooperation with the External Relations Office and the Military Council in Hasakah city, handed over a child who had recently joined the military forces to his parents on Monday.
The child had left his home to join one of the military units, which contacted the Child Protection Office in order to hand him over to them.
Khaled Jabr, co-chair of the Child Protection Office, said that today a 15-year-old minor was removed from the military forces in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations.
Jabr added in an exclusive statement to North Press that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) bar children and minors from the ranks of their forces, according to the agreement concluded between them and the United Nations.
He indicated that in addition to the 15-year-old, 12 children were handed over to their families, and this was done in front of the media.
The AANES Executive Council established the Child Protection Office late in August. This step came after an agreement signed by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi with the United Nations to prevent the recruitment of children and their use as combatants in armed conflict.