PKK still committed to children deed, says Geneva Call

A Geneva-based non-governmental organisation, Geneva Call, said that the PKK leaders in the Qandil Mountains would send Kurdish minors, under 16, back to their families to Turkey.

'Senior PKK military leaders, Bahoz Erdal and Delal Amed, said they would bring the minors, younger than 16, back to their families and allow the minors, aged between 16 and 18, to see their families,' said a Geneva Call statement, citing the PKK's commitment to an agreement for children's protection.

The NGO's statement came after a Geneva Call delegation had visited the PKK leaders in Qandil, North of Iraq.

Delal Ahmed, a senior commander at HPG headquarters in the Qandil, said they have been still committed to the deed and wanted to continue cooperation with the Geneva Call. 'If we find any minor under 16 during our search, we will send him back to his family. We are making our own search considering the list submitted by the Geneva Call,' said Ahmed, during the meeting with Geneva Call delegation.

Minors under 18 have been still taken to the mountain to be recruited in the PKK ranks although PKK's armed wing, the People's Defense Forces, HPG, signed the Deed of Commitment fort he Protection from the Effects of Armed Conflict, in 2013.