A/HRC/18/38 references, including resolution 16/24, on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and, resolution 15/28 on the assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights. III. Progress and challenges in addressing grave violations against children in armed conflict 13. Since the previous report of the Special Representative submitted to the Human Rights Council, the child protection commitments made by the Government of Nepal and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army have been translated into concrete actions by these parties. New action plans to cease recruitment and use of children as well as to secure their release were signed by the United Nations and the Sudan Liberation Army/SLA-Free Will on 14 June 2010; the Sudan Liberation army/SLA-Mother Wing (Abu Gasim) on 15 August 2010; and the Government of Afghanistan on 30 January 2011, respectively. 14. In addition, in November 2010, during the visit of the Special Representative, the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia committed to work towards an action plan to release girls and boys within the ranks of the Government forces and allied militias. In Myanmar, action plan negotiations between the Government and the United Nations to end the recruitment and use of children in the Tatmadaw Kyi are ongoing. In the Sudan, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the Justice and Equality Movement and the United Nations on 21 July 2010, paving the way towards the signing of an action plan. On 22 December 2010, JEM/Peace Wing submitted a draft action plan to the United Nations, to be implemented in West Darfur. In Chad, some 1,000 children were released by 12 armed opposition groups during the reporting period. In April 2011, the Government of Chad prepared an action plan to address the recruitment and use of children by the Armée nationale tchadienne, which is ready for signature with the United Nations. 15. Since the previous report of the Special Representative, close to 10,000 children associated with armed groups have been released as a result of efforts on the ground, including agreements on actions plans for the release of children signed by the United Nations and parties to conflict. 16. Despite the progress made, however, significant challenges in addressing grave violations against children remain. In several countries, such as in the Central African Republic, Somalia and the Sudan, access constraints for security reasons hamper the systematic monitoring and reporting of grave violations. In addition, information gathering is challenged by underreporting of grave violations, particularly in the case of sexual violence. 17. Dialogue between the United Nations and non-State armed groups for the development of action plans has been delayed in some cases for a variety of reasons, including lack of access to armed groups and of political will, fragmentation within armed groups or the inability to identify and hold groups accountable for violations committed. Countries affected by these constraints include Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Philippines, Somalia, the Sudan and Yemen. 18. In some cases, such as in the Sudan and the Philippines, the implementation of action plans has been delayed owing to lack of funding. In places such as the Central African Republic, the Philippines, Darfur and South Sudan, children are associated with armed groups having close links to the local community, which complicates their formal release. GE.11-15092 5