Petition: Stop recruiting 16 year olds into the armed forces

Apr 3rd, 2015

This year could be an important turning point on this issue. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will be considering the UK's position on recruiting under 18 year olds into the armed forces.

The UK is the only country in the EU to recruit at 16. Also, the Ministry of Defence will be challenged in the courts for forcing recruits under 18 to serve longer than adult recruits. Last week, Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights called again for the issue of children serving in the armed forces to be scrutinised.

The Defence Committee has also asked that the Ministry of Defence justify their reliance on 16 and 17 year olds. A recent poll shows that 78% of respondents thought the minimum enlistment age for the Army should be 18 or above (of those who expressed a view).

Please encourage others to sign the petition so that we reach our target of 10,000 signatures by the time we hand the petition in to the new government in May.

Sign the petition here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-recruitment-of-16-year-olds-into-the-uk-armed-forces

Thanks again for your support,

Pat Gaffney

Pax Christi

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