Australia and child soldiers

The problem

In all regions of the world, tens of thousands of children — girls as well as boys — are involved in the armed forces of states and non-state groups. The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers defines a child soldier as any person below the age of 18 who is a member of government armed forces or any other armed force or armed political group, whether or not an armed conflict exists.

International law

More than three-quarters of nations have signed or ratified an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which requires them to take measures to ensure that their armed forces do not allow children under 18 to take a direct part in hostilities.

However, parties to the optional protocol are permitted to recruit children under 18, provided they do not perform a combat role before they turn 18. Australia is one of 63 nations which allow children under 18 to be recruited to the military. The Australian Government has defended its policy on the basis of manpower requirements.

While Australia is not legally bound to raise the minimum recruitment age to 18 years, there is an international trend towards doing so. Countries which have recently increased the minimum age for voluntary recruitment to 18 years include Chile, Italy, Jordan, the Maldives, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and South Korea.

Our positon

The Peace Organisation of Australia calls on the Australian Government to end the recruitment of children under 18 to our armed forces. This would put Australia in line with the emerging international consensus that children should play no role in militaries.

Further information

• Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
• Campaign brief [.pdf]