Legal challenge over MoD recruitment of minors
8 October 2014
Campaigners have launched a legal battle with the Ministry of Defence over its recruitment of minors.
Wed, 8 Oct 2014Campaigners have launched a legal challenge against the Ministry of Defence over its recruitment of minors.
The UK is now one of just 17 countries in the world, and the only one in Europe, that enlists from the age of 16, according to Child Soldiers International (CSI).
CSI yesterday [7 October] launched a claim, calling for a judicial review of a rule they have labelled the ‘Catch-22’ rule.
It effectively forces the ministry’s youngest recruits to serve for the longest. For example, recruits under the age of 18 have a right to be discharged before their 18th birthday but after that, the ‘Catch-22’ clause commits them to serve until they are at least 22 years old.
That means the youngest recruits, if they don’t leave before they turn 18, would be forced to serve the longest – a minimum service period of six years, whereas adults can be discharged after four years’ service.
Group director of CSI Richard Clarke said it was unlawful, highly unethical and exploitative.
The aim is a reduction by up to two years of the minimum service period for recruits under the age of 18.
Lawyers acting for the campaign group claim this constitutes unlawful age discrimination in employment conditions, and violates the Equal Treatment Directive 2000/78/EC, an EU directive.
In a written statement provided to Recruiter, defence minister Julian Brazier said a career in the armed forces provided young people with “a wealth of benefits and opportunities”.
He went on to say: “We have established procedures in place to ensure that no-one under 18 may join our Armed Forces without the formal written consent of their parent or guardian and no-one under 18 can deploy on operations.”
According to the MoD’s Annual UK Armed Personnel Report, dated 1 April 2014, 1.3% of UK regular armed forces were under the age of 18.
Bangladesh, El Salvador, Iran and North Korea are among the other countries that enlist 16-year-olds. Canada and France accept 16-year-olds into military academies to study before beginning a career in the armed forces at the age of 17.
The UK is now one of just 17 countries in the world, and the only one in Europe, that enlists from the age of 16, according to Child Soldiers International (CSI).
CSI yesterday [7 October] launched a claim, calling for a judicial review of a rule they have labelled the ‘Catch-22’ rule.
It effectively forces the ministry’s youngest recruits to serve for the longest. For example, recruits under the age of 18 have a right to be discharged before their 18th birthday but after that, the ‘Catch-22’ clause commits them to serve until they are at least 22 years old.
That means the youngest recruits, if they don’t leave before they turn 18, would be forced to serve the longest – a minimum service period of six years, whereas adults can be discharged after four years’ service.
Group director of CSI Richard Clarke said it was unlawful, highly unethical and exploitative.
The aim is a reduction by up to two years of the minimum service period for recruits under the age of 18.
Lawyers acting for the campaign group claim this constitutes unlawful age discrimination in employment conditions, and violates the Equal Treatment Directive 2000/78/EC, an EU directive.
In a written statement provided to Recruiter, defence minister Julian Brazier said a career in the armed forces provided young people with “a wealth of benefits and opportunities”.
He went on to say: “We have established procedures in place to ensure that no-one under 18 may join our Armed Forces without the formal written consent of their parent or guardian and no-one under 18 can deploy on operations.”
According to the MoD’s Annual UK Armed Personnel Report, dated 1 April 2014, 1.3% of UK regular armed forces were under the age of 18.
Bangladesh, El Salvador, Iran and North Korea are among the other countries that enlist 16-year-olds. Canada and France accept 16-year-olds into military academies to study before beginning a career in the armed forces at the age of 17.
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