Parties to conflict listed in the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict are requested by the Security Council to develop action plans to address grave violations against children.

An action plan is a written, signed commitment between the United Nations and those parties who are listed as having committed grave violations against children in the Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict. Each action plan is designed to address a specific party’s situation, and outlines concrete, time-bound steps that lead to compliance with international law, de-listing, and a more protected future for children.

Activities included in action plans

For example, an agreement between Government security forces and the United Nations to end the recruitment and use of children can include the following actions:

  • Criminalize the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and issue a military order to stop and prevent child recruitment
  • Investigate and prosecute those who recruit and use children
  • Appoint child protection specialists in security forces
  • Release all children identified in the ranks of security forces
  • Provide regular, unimpeded access to military camps and bases so child protection actors can verify that no children are in the ranks
  • Provide release and reintegration programmes for children
  • Strengthen birth registration systems and integrate age-verification mechanisms in recruitment procedures
  • Implement national campaigns to raise awareness and to prevent the recruitment of children

A party to conflict shall be eligible for delisting upon United Nations verification that all activities have been successfully implemented.

  • The most recent Action Plan has been signed in Iraq in March 2023. There are currently 18 action plans under implementation. 
Central African Republic

Mouvement Patriotique pour la Centrafrique – 14 June 2018

Front Populaire pour la Renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC) – 5 July 2019

L’Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC) – 31 August 2019

Democratic Republic of the Congo Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) – Action plans on recruitment and use of children and sexual violence – 4 Oct 2012 *Delisted in 2017 following compliance with Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children. Action Plan on ending and preventing sexual violence against children under implementation.
Iraq Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) – Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children – 30 March 2023
Mali Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad, including the Mouvement national de libération de l’Azawad, Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children and sexual violence against children – 5 March 2017
The Platform, including affiliated armed groups – Action Plans to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children and all other grave violations – 26 August 2021
Myanmar

Tatmadaw Kyi – Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children – 27 June 2012
Democratic Karen Benevolent Army- Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children – 20 November 2020

Somalia

Somali National Army – Action Plan to end the recruitment and use of children signed on 3 July 2012;  Action Plan to end and killing and maiming of children signed on 6 August 2012.

Roadmap to expedite the implementation of the two Action Plans adopted in October 2019.

South Sudan

 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces – February 2020

Comprehensive action plan signed by the SSPDF (formerly SPLA) and endorsed by the SPLA-iO replaces previous Action Plans for SPLA and SPLA-iO as of February 2020.

Sudan

Sudan Liberation Army/ Minni Minnawi – 11 June 2007

Justice and Equality Movement – 25 September 2012

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) – 23 November 2016

Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)  – 29 June 2019

Yemen  

Yemeni Government Forces (YGF) – 14 May 2014 *

Houthis – 18 April 2022

Overall, 38 action plans have been signed since the beginning of the CAAC mandate, including 11 Government forces and 27 non-State armed groups. Of those, 12 parties have fully complied with their commitment and were subsequently delisted. 4 Action plans were replaced by consolidated action plans. Other parties have ceased to exist.

The United Nations engages in child protection dialogue with armed forces or armed groups for the purpose of developing and implementing time-bound action plans. Entering into dialogue to achieve agreements on action plans does not constitute recognition of an armed force.


Previous Action Plans 

Afghanistan Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) – 30 January 2011
Central African Republic Armée Populaire pour La Restauration de La Démocratie (APRD) – 19 October 2011*Party ceased to exist;
Convention des patriotes pour la justice et la paix (CPJP) – 20 November 2011*Party ceased to exist
Chad Armée Nationale Tchadienne (ANT) – 15 June 2011 *Delisted in 2014 following compliance with Action Plan.
Côte d’Ivoire Forces Armées des Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) – November 2005; Front de libération du Grand Ouest (FLGO) – September 2006; Mouvement Ivoirien de Libération de l’Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire (MILOCI) – September 2006; Alliance patriotique de l’ethnie Wè (APWé) – September 2006; Union patriotique de résistance du Grand Ouest (UPRGO) – September 2006.*All parties in Côte d’Ivoire delisted following compliance with Action Plans
Nepal Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (UCPN-M) – 16 December 2009 *Delisted in 2011 following compliance with Action Plan
Nigeria Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) –  15 September 2017 *Delisted in 2021 following compliance with Action Plan
Philippines Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – 2009 * Delisted in 2017 following compliance with Action Plan
Sri Lanka Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) – 01 December 2008*Delisted in 2011 following compliance with Action Plan
South Sudan

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army –12 March 2012 (Action Plan signed as the country’s armed forces following independence in 2011); Recommitment to Action Plan signed on 24 June 2014.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition – December 2015

Sudan 

Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) – 2 November 2009 – Signed as an armed group before South Sudan’s Independence;

Sudan Liberation Army /Free Will – June 2010;

Sudan Liberation Army /Abu Gasim – August 2010;

Sudan Government security forces, including the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Popular Defense Forces and the Sudan Police Forces – 27 March 2016 *Delisted in 2018 following compliance with Action Plan; 

Uganda Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) – August 2007 *Delisted in 2008 following compliance with Action Plan