News Release: Quakers seek care for young army recruits

16 May 2011
 
Quakers want Britain’s duty of care to its armed forces to include the provision of right of discharge for under eighteen year olds.
 
Quakers in Britain are supporting a New Clause amending the Armed Forces Bill. (New Clause seven.) The Amendment tabled by Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge, will entitle under eighteen year olds to leave the Armed Forces by giving two weeks’ notice.
 
Britain is the only European country to recruit into the regular army at sixteen. After an initial six months there is no discharge as of right. Young recruits may be held to their commitment for four years beyond their eighteenth birthday.
 
“Quaker commitment to equality and to peace impels us to call for a change in the law regarding under eighteens in the army, says Michael Bartlet, Parliamentary Liaison Secretary for Quakers in Britain. “A statutory duty of care to the armed forces needs to include a right of discharge for all under eighteens. A sixteen year old joining the army is still legally a child, too young to vote or to have any say over how the army may be used. Yet they can make a decision, which binds them for four years beyond their eighteenth birthday.”
 
Parliament’s Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill has completed its scrutiny of the Bill and has done nothing to address the anomaly that requires junior soldiers to make longer commitments than those joining as adults. Sixteen year olds joining the Armed Forces are required to serve for six years while those joining at eighteen are required to serve for four. After an initial six months they have no discharge as of right.
 
There are currently 580 sixteen year olds and 1,970 seventeen year olds serving in the armed forces. (MOD figures) 
 Ends

Notes to editor:

• Approximately 23,000 people attend Quaker Meetings for Worship in Britain, and there are more than 475 Meetings.
• Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Their commitment to peace, equality, justice, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change.

Parliament’s Human Rights Committee has recommended raising the age of recruitment and safeguarding the rights of young people in the army.  See: Http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200809/jtselect/jtrights/157/15709.htm#a21

Media Information

Anne van Staveren
0207 663 1048
07958 009703
annev@quaker.org.uk
www.quaker.org.uk