Launch of petition to end under 18 recruitment into Armed Forces

Child Solder Ivory Coast, Groud Gilber Wiki image

A network of twenty education, peace and human rights groups, both secular and religious, have today launched a petition calling on the Ministry of Defence to end recruitment of 16 year olds into the UK armed forces.

To sign the petition see: http://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/stop-recruiting-16s

At present 15 year olds can apply and 16 and 17 years olds can be recruited into the Armed Forces. The UK is the only country in Europe - and the only country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council - to recruit 16 year olds into its armed forces.

Recent reports by Forces Watch and Child Soldier International highlight the vulnerability of young people who are recruited. Younger recruits are significantly more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to drink at levels harmful to health, and to behave violently on their return from war. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds are at greatest risk.

The petition also makes the link with the hundreds of thousands who died from the UK alone during World War One, including some as young as 15, suggesting that there could be no better way to commit our country to peace during the up-coming commemorations than to put an end to under-18 recruitment.

The supporters of this petition hope that it will be used to raise awareness of this issue and change government policy. The petition will be presented to the Ministry of Defence in April 2014

To sign the petition see: http://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/stop-recruiting-16s

The petition was initiated by Pax Christi and supported by Baptist Peace Fellowship, Child Soldiers International, Christian CND, Columban Justice Peace & Integrity of Creation, Conscience, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Forces Watch, Movement for the Abolition of War, National Justice & Peace Network, National Union of Teachers, Network for Peace, Northern Friends Peace Board, Peace Education Network, Peace Pledge Union, Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Student Christian Movement, War Resisters International, Woodcraft Folk, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom.

For more information see:

Last Ambush: Aspects of Mental Health in British Armed Forces: October 2013 www.forceswatch.net/content/last-ambush

Child Soldier International: www.child-soldiers.org/news_reader.php?id=718