Khartoum — In what has been hailed a milestone for the protection of children in Sudan, the Government of Sudan signed an Action Plan with the UN to prevent the recruitment and use of children by Sudan Government Security Forces.

The UN welcomes the government's commitment to protect children from violations in armed conflict, the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict said in a statement today.

"We will work to promote and protect children's rights in areas of armed conflict and displacement. 

We are also committed to strengthen existing mechanisms that are included in the Child Act of 2010 and the Sudan Armed Forces law," said Ibrahim Adam Ibrahim, State Minister of Social Welfare.

The Minister signed the Action Plan on behalf of the Sudanese Government at a ceremony that took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Khartoum, and was attended by cabinet ministers to highlight the government's determination to turn the page on the recruitment and use of children.