National Summit on International Humanitarian Law in the Philipppines | 25 REVIEW OF PHILIPPINE STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS’ OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW Speaker: COMMISSIONER JOSE MANUEL S. MAMAUAG Commission on HumanRights Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag greeted everyone a pleasant morning. “It is refreshing to be invited to take counsel with agroup ofconcernedcitizens who have gathered to engage themselves in the earnest study of the issues and challenges that confront a mostserious national endeavour: A National Summit on International Humanitarian Law.” The participants’ seriousness of purpose and concern for the good of the nation reassure each and everyone that occasional aberrations in the Philippine legal system cannot and will not overcomethevitality ofthe democratic spirit that animatesthe Filipino people. He was mostgrateful State Parties - - - for the privilege to speak at the Summit. * shall take all feasible measuresto ensure that Heinvited the participants’ attention to the copy membersof their armed forces who have not of the CSI’s Primer on IHLin the Philippine attained the age of 18 years do not take direct Context. The Primer was madea reference because part in hostilities; it bears information about the Customary IHL Rules = attained the ageof18 years are not compulso- as determined by the International rily recruited into their armedforces; Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 2005 Study on the Rules and State Practices, entitled shall ensure that persons who have not » shall raise the minimum ageforthe voluntary recruitmentof personsinto their Customary International Humanitarian Law. national armedforces. Key Normsand Obligations under the 2000 OptionalProtocol on the Like the State Parties, the Non-State Armed Involvementof Children in Armed Groups (NSAGs)have also an obligation as regards Conflict (CIAC) Children in Armed Conflict (CIAC). The key norms and obligations under the 2000 Optional Protocol on the Involvement ofChildren =" The Non-State Armed Groups “should not, Involved in Armed Conflict of States’ obligations under any circumstances, recruit or use in are: hostilities persons underthe age of18 years”.