In 2009, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a non-state armed group, signed an action plan with the United Nations to end the recruitment of children under the age of 18, and to release and reintegrate child soldiers into their communities. By the end of 2017, the MILF had released all the child soldiers in its ranks, and consequently, had been removed from the United Nations's list of parties to armed conflict that recruited and used child soldiers. Local support for this step and a desire for legitimacy influenced the MILF to act in accordance with IHL. Its actions seemed to have led the Philippines, two years later, to adopt a law protecting children involved in armed conflict.
