UN reports progress in rehabilitating child soldiers from civil war :Nepal

New York : Thousands of Nepalese child soldiers who fought in the decade-long civil war between the then-royalist government and Maoist insurgents.

During “a very constructive” week-long visit, the Working Group for children and armed conflict conferred with the Government and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) on the Action Plan the two signed with the United Nations last December.

“I am particularly pleased to report on the commitments that the UCPN (Maoist) and other political party officials made during our discussions.

Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller, chairman of the Working Group, told reporters in Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital.

Under this agreement, the UN Monitoring Team will meet with the UCPN-M on a regular basis to address the concerns that have been reported.

Chairmen of political youth wings agreed to work with the UN to find ways to end the use of children below the age of 18 in potentially violent political activities and to exclude schools, school children and school personnel from strikes and other work actions.

The Government and Maoists both have responsibilities under the Action Plan and removal of parties from the lists depends on full compliance with the plans they have signed, Mr. Heller said.

“I would like to relay the Council’s firm support for the peace process in Nepal and highlight that all parties in Nepal told the Working Group.

Under the Action Plan signed on 16 December 2009, nearly 3,000 child soldiers who served in the Maoist army were discharged by February in a move the UN hailed as a milestone in the country’s peace process.