A/HRC/37/47 from the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (ibid.). In Afghanistan, the adoption of the age verification guidelines, which are used in child protection units that have been set up in 32 of 34 Afghan National Police recruitment centres, have to date prevented over 1,416 boys and 16 girls from joining the police. Moreover, in a related development in November, 50 children formerly held in the adult detention facility in Parwan on charges related to national security were transferred to a juvenile rehabilitation centre in Kabul, which should facilitate their access to psychosocial and vocational services. In December 2016, the Ministry of Defence of Afghanistan also signed a policy for the protection of children in armed conflict that includes guidance on responses to the six grave violations and accountability measures. 26. The implementation of the action plan signed with the Government of the Sudan in 2016 has been going well, with the development of a workplan on the implementation of the commitments made in the action plan. Command orders for the dissemination of the action plan were issued and focal points at the rank of Inspector-General were appointed to facilitate discussions on access. In Myanmar since 2012, over 850 children and young people recruited as children have been released from the ranks of the armed forces. In early 2017, the Government of Myanmar endorsed the Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups but, along with Somalia, has still to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. 27. Ongoing crises have hampered progress in the implementation of action plans in Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, but advocacy has continued to secure the release of children associated with armed forces and armed groups. In addition, amidst the ongoing conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, government forces and pro-government militia were listed in the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict for the recruitment and use of children in 2017 (ibid.). The Office will continue to engage to gain additional commitments to protect children with all Governments that demonstrate political will towards that goal. 28. Engagement with Government armed forces also catalysed interaction with nonState armed groups to respond to and prevent violations. More than 50 per cent of armed groups included in the annexes to the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict for the recruitment and use of children are active in countries where government forces are also listed, illustrating that the actions of armed groups are influenced by the conduct of government forces (ibid.). In that regard, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, progress on the implementation of the action plan has energized a broader national campaign to raise awareness of the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, which, among other things, is using the national football team and local artists as spokespersons. The initiative aims to engender a greater recognition among commanders of non-State armed groups of the legal and political repercussions associated with the recruitment of boys and girls. 29. The success of engagement on the recruitment and use of children has opened additional avenues to strengthening child protection on a broader scale by increasing the awareness of parties to conflict of the impact of all six grave violations. In that regard, where appropriate, new action plans signed with parties to conflict go beyond ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children and include other grave violations. A new campaign, currently being elaborated by the Office of the Special Representative, will build on this momentum and focus on all six grave violations. 30. To fully realize the goals of creating child-free armies, children formerly associated with armed forces must be appropriately reintegrated into society to prevent them from being re-recruited, thus breaking the cycle of violence. Following the release of children from armed forces or groups, a focus must be placed on the adequate programming and funding of reintegration programmes. Children who have been recruited and used carry the scars of conflict, thus effective reintegration is vital so that they can live full lives and contribute to a peaceful society. Girls face even greater difficulties in being accepted back into their families and communities, as they are often stigmatized or may be returning with a child. Similarly, boys who have suffered sexual violence will face high levels of stigmatization. Without adequate reintegration and assistance to help children find ways to 9