CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 56
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Consider removing the interpretative declaration on article 1; (b) Consider raising the minimum age of voluntary recruitment into the armed forces to 18 years; (c) Ban the advertising of military service to children, particularly in schools and targeted at ethnic minority children and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds; (d) Ensure that there are checks on voluntary recruitment – for example, that children from a separated family need the consent of both parents; (e) Ensure that the minimum service period for children in the armed forces is not longer than for adults, and that they have the right to leave with no notice period; (f) Investigate any reports of sexual abuse and harassment and other violence against children in the armed forces, and take action against those responsible; (g) Take action to deal with mental health problems among child recruits, including the high rate of suicide among recruits who joined as children; (h) Protect anyone under 18 under the Joint Doctrine Publication 1-10 for Captured Persons, including by bringing the definition of a child in line with the CRC; (i) Take action to identify asylum-seeking, refugee or migrant children who may have been used in armed conflicts abroad, as soon as possible after they arrive in the UK; (j) Ban the sale of arms to countries where children are known to be used in armed conflicts.
Original UN recommendation
Noting with concern reports of advertising of and marketing for military service aimed at children and the overrepresentation of socioeconomically disadvantaged children in the armed forces, the Committee recalls its previous recommendations and recommends that the State party: (a) Consider withdrawing its interpretative declaration on article 1; (b) Consider raising the minimum age of voluntary recruitment into the armed forces to 18 years; (c) Prohibit all forms of advertising and marketing for military service targeted at children, in particular at schools and targeting children belonging to ethnic minority groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged children; (d) Ensure that safeguards for voluntary recruitment are sufficient, including by ensuring that no child from a separated family is recruited with the consent of only one parent; (e) Ensure that children currently enlisted in the armed forces do not serve a minimum period that is longer than those who enlisted as adults and that they have the right to leave the armed forces with no notice period; (f) Promptly investigate any reports of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of violence against children in the armed forces, particularly during armed forces training, and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and sanctioned; (g) Take measures to address the reported heavy mental health burden among child recruits, including incidence of suicide among infantry personnel who enlisted when they were under the age of 18; (h) Ensure that all children under 18 years of age receive special protection under the Joint Doctrine Publication 1-10 for Captured Persons, including by amending the definition of the child in line with the Convention; (i) Ensure the early and effective identification of all asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant children who may have been recruited or used in armed conflicts abroad upon entering the State party; (j) Prohibit the export of arms, including small arms and components for weapons systems, to countries where children are known to be recruited or used in hostilities.
Date of UN examination
18/05/2023
Original UN document
Download the original CRC concluding observations 2023 on the UN website.