Child Soldiers (2001, No. 11)

The 27th Conference resolves that national federations and associations (NFAs) urge their respective governments to:

1. Ratify, implement and promote international support for the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict;
2. raise the minimum age to 18 years for all armed forces recruitment for active service, as advocated by the United Nations Report, The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children (#A/51/306, 26 August 1996 – the Machel Report), and subsequently notify the Secretary General of the United Nations to that effect, as proposed in Article 3 of the Optional Protocol;
3. take action to ensure that all peace negotiations and agreements include specific measures for the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers into their civilian communities;
4. provide resources in post-conflict situations to support education and vocational training programmes after thorough specific culturally-sensitive treatment by local traditional experts together with trained trauma specialists.