MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Myanmar Armed Forces (the Tatmadaw) released 46 children from military service, local media reported Sunday.
The Tatmadaw, as well as Myanmar opposition paramilitary groups, have been repeatedly accused of significant number of children serving in its ranks and employed for potentially lethal tasks, such as mine detection.
According to The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the Tatmadaw discharged children to their families in the presence of civilian officials and UN representatives.
On June 27, 2012, the United Nations signed with Myanmar a plan of action aimed at ending the recruiting of children by the Tatmadaw and preventing violations of children's rights. Soon after the agreement was reached the International Labour Organization estimated the number of child soldiers in Myanmar up to 5,000.
The newspaper added that a total number of child soldiers released from the Myanmar army reached 744, as part of the measures to rid the armed forces' ranks of underage soldiers.
