President Sharif said he ordered the commanders of his security forces to “put a stop to recruiting children as soldiers”. He did not say if such methods were practiced in the TFG security forces.

At a Press Conference in Mogadishu Friday today, President Sharif said that protecting the rights of the children “should be seen as a religious duty in Somalia”.

The Somali cabinet met yesterday in Mogadishu in a move aimed at ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. President Sharif said yesterday’s meeting reviewed Somalia’s position on the situation and the rights of the Somali children.

Somali children are faced with risks to their lives and lack of education, he told reporters in Mogadishu.

“We cannot look forward to the future without putting an effort into the care of our children. We are determined to commit to the protection of the rights of our children.

The President’s remarks on the rights of the Somali children mark the 20^th anniversary of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.

President Sharif urged the Somalis and the international community to participate in impacting positively on the lives of children in Somalia.