British Child Soldiers and the Rights of the Child

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

The UK is one of only 19 countries worldwide that still has a recruitment age of 16 years or below in to their armed forces. Children as young as 15 years and 7 months can apply to join, with minors making up nearly a third of new recruits in to the British Regular Army. Drawing on the protection of children provided by the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), but focusing on the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC), this paper will explore the recruitment of under 18 years olds in to the British Armed Forces. Examining the voluntariness of enlistment and analysing the effectiveness of the safeguards to protect the best interests of the child, the paper challenges the legitimacy and appropriateness of the current armed forces recruitment policy.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2018
EventEmerging Human Rights in the 21st century: 70 years after the UDHR - Liverpool John Moore's University, Liverpool, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Duration: 07 Dec 2018 → …

Conference

ConferenceEmerging Human Rights in the 21st century: 70 years after the UDHR
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
CityLiverpool
Period07 Dec 2018 → …

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