News release: Quakers question the age of responsibility
News Release
08 October 2010
Quakers question the age of responsibility
Quakers and Unitarians welcome the move by Julian Huppert, Liberal MP for Cambridge, Peter Soulsby Labour MP for Leicester South, Caroline Lucas Green MP for Brighton, and Mark Durkan, Social Democratic and Labour Party MP for Foyle, to table an Early Day Motion on Monday 11 October calling on Parliament to raise the age of recruitment into the armed forces to eighteen.
Although Parliament’s Human Rights Committee has called for Government action to implement the Optional Protocol on the Rights of the Child, soldiers joining the army, as sixteen year olds, with their parents support, may be held to their commitment, made as a minor, for four years beyond their eighteenth birthday. This Early Day Motion, number 781, to be tabled in Parliament, with the support of the Quakers and Unitarians, calls for Government action to safeguard the human rights of young soldiers:
That this House notes that sixteen to eighteen year olds currently entering the armed forces commit themselves to a period of four years beyond their eighteenth birthday; notes that after a period of six months they are unable to leave as of right; notes that no other country in mainland Europe recruits at the age of sixteen; welcomes the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in its report on children’s rights that the UK adopt a plan of action for implementing the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the rights of the child; and urges the UK Government to implement the Joint Committee’s recommendations and raise the age of recruitment to eighteen.
Britain is the only EU country to regularly recruit at the age of sixteen.
Those joining the army at this age commit themselves to four years beyond their eighteenth birthday – two years longer than those joining at eighteen.
After an initial six months cooling off period there is no discharge as of right.
In the year 2009/2010, 4675 under eighteens were recruited into the armed forces.
Going absent without leave may be a criminal offence.
“Under-eighteens are too young to vote, yet they are old enough to join the army. They are too young to buy fireworks, yet old enough to train with live ammunition. They are not legally adult, yet then can make a decision, which binds them for four years beyond their eighteenth birthday and may lead to them serving in Afghanistan,” says Michael Bartlet, Parliamentary Liaison Secretary, Quakers in Britain.
“Unitarians support the EDM because we value the rights of young people and want them to have the choice of serving or not, at adults aged eighteen,” said Karen Hanley, Chair Faith and Public Issues, Unitarians.
The Armed Forces Bill, to be introduced in this session of Parliament will legislate to change the military covenant but will not address this.
Recommendations of Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee, for safeguarding the wellbeing of young people in the army, have not been implemented.
Ends
Notes to editor:
- Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends.
- The Religious Society of Friends was founded as a radical Christian movement in seventeenth century England.
- Around 23,000 people attend nearly 475 Quaker meetings in Britain. Their commitment to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change. See www.quaker.org.uk
- In the year 2009/2010, 4675 under 18s were recruited into the armed forces: source www.dasa.mod.uk
- For more on Children's Rights - Human Rights Joint Committee see http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200809/jtselect/jtrights/157/15709.htm#a21
Media Information
Anne van Staveren
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