A/HRC/34/44 Intelligence and Security Service for their alleged association with an armed group. As already noted in the present report, following sustained advocacy, the children were released, on 22 September 2016. C. Colombia and Cuba for the Colombian peace process 40. In 2016, the Special Representative continued to engage directly with the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army. She travelled to Havana in May to witness the signing of an agreement on the separation of children and the commitment to develop a comprehensive special care programme (see joint communiqué No. 70).8 This agreement came as a result of sustained advocacy by the Special Representative and the country task force on monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children in Colombia which is co-chaired by UNICEF and the Resident Coordinator. Through this agreement, the parties committed to prioritizing the principle of the best interests of the child and ensuring their treatment as victims. 41. After the results of the plebiscite on the final peace agreement, the parties nevertheless reiterated their commitment to continuing to implement confidence-building measures of a humanitarian nature, including the separation of children from the camps of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army. Since the signing of a revised agreement on 24 November 2016, efforts have continued to ensure prioritization of the separation and reintegration of all underage children associated with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army and to put in place guarantees of nonrepetition to prevent re-recruitment by other armed actors. 42. As requested by the parties, the Office of the Special Representative continues to act in support of the process as an observer and guarantor. Considering the political and practical challenges ahead, the Special Representative will pursue her advocacy to emphasize the urgent need to bring protection and peace to the children of Colombia and to present concrete results after four years of dialogue. D. Somalia 43. From 16 to 21 July 2016, during her second visit to Somalia, the Special Representative met with representatives of the Government and assessed the implementation of the action plans to end and prevent the recruitment and use and killing and maiming of children by the Somali National Army. She also engaged with the African Union Mission in Somalia to discuss the vital role that it should play in protecting children and to raise allegations of child rights violations by its contingents. 44. The detention of children for association with Al-Shabaab had been identified as a concern during the Special Representative’s previous visit to Somalia. Notwithstanding the release of children from centres in Serendi, Hiil-Walaal and Galmudug, as already highlighted in the present report, the lack of transparency and oversight in classifying children held on national security charges and the whereabouts and plight of children classified as high risk remains a grave concern. The United Nations was engaged in sustained advocacy on that issue at time of writing, in December 2016. 45. In Puntland, the Special Representative expressed her alarm that children under the age of 18 had been held in detention since March for association with Al-Shabaab and that 8 See https://www.mesadeconversaciones.com.co/comunicados/comunicado-conjunto-70-la-habanacuba-15-de-mayo-de-2016. 13