A/HRC/18/38 37. The abduction of educational and medical personnel is also of grave concern to the children and armed conflict agenda, as it severely affects the provision of basic services to children. The Office of the Special Representative is concerned at the use of schools as recruiting grounds for children with the aim of involving them in armed hostilities and military operations. Schools should be considered safe havens protecting children from involvement in armed conflict. VI. Field visits by the Special Representative 38. During the period under review, the Special Representative carried out field missions to Somalia (November 2010), Afghanistan (January 2011) and the Philippines (April 2011). The purpose of these visits was to secure and facilitate the implementation of child protection commitments on the ground, to foster more effective coordination among key stakeholders, and to follow up on the recommendations of the Secretary-General3 and the key provisions of Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009). 39. The main commitments received from Governments and other parties to the conflict during these missions are highlighted below. It is crucial for the protection of children that the Human Rights Council and the broader international and human rights community continue to collectively monitor follow-up actions and encourage parties to honour their commitments. A. Somalia 40. The Special Representative visited Somalia from 1 to 5 November 2010 to obtain a commitment by the Transitional Federal Government to cease recruitment and use of children and to take the steps necessary to develop a national legislative framework for the protection of children. The Special Representative also discussed with the Government the need to protect civilians, including children, from death and injury during military operations by means of strict adherence to the principles of distinction and proportionality. 41. The Special Representative also raised her concerns at the killing and maiming of civilians, including children, with the Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and obtained his commitment that AMISOM would adhere to their rules of engagement for the protection of civilians during military operations. 42. In December 2010, Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed appointed State Minister Zahra Ali Samantar as focal point for child protection and human rights. The focal point will work with the United Nations towards the timely development and implementation of a comprehensive time-bound action plan to stop and prevent the recruitment and use of children. B. Afghanistan 43. The Special Representative travelled to Afghanistan from 27 January to 2 February 2011 to witness the signing, on 30 January, of an action plan for the prevention of underage recruitment into the Afghan National Security Forces by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zalmai Rassoul, and the Special Representative for Afghanistan. In the action plan, the Government of Afghanistan pledged to prevent under-age recruitment into the Afghan 3 10 See S/2010/577, S/2011/55 and S/2010/36. GE.11-15092