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The LTTE has given an assurance to the United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF], that it will not recruit anyone under the age of 18 years in their armed forces.

This agreement is in compliance with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The Optional Protocol prevents the recruitment of anyone under 18 to armed forces.

Under this common understanding, UNICEF would maintain a central information system of all confirmed cases of under age recruitment for a follow up during regular discussions between UNICEF and the LTTE.

This verbal agreement was reached between Pulithevan of LTTE's Political Wing and Senior Officials of UNICEF.

Officials of both organisations met recently in the Vanni, to explore further opportunities to protect the rights of children affected by the armed conflict. While, actively advocating for the prevention of under age recruitment by the LTTE, UNICEF has also been taking up the cases of children who have been already recruited. The organisation's efforts have resulted in successful disengagement of over sixty children from the LTTE. However, much more need to be done.

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