YANGON — Myanmar military released 55 children Friday under the 2012 Joint Action Plan with the United Nations (UN) to end and prevent the use and recruitment of child soldiers, according to an announcement of the UN office in Yangon.

This is the first discharge since the new government took office in April this year, also coming a week after the end of Myanmar’s 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference.

As of September 9, the number of released child soldiers has reached 800 since the action plan was signed in 2012. On the same day, 13 young people who were recruited as children but now adults by 2012, were also released.

The freed children and young people will benefit from socio-economic reintegration programs, including access to education, vocational training, income generating activities, to restart their lives, the statement said.

– Xinhua

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