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November 2011
Published by the Quaker United Nations Office in November 2011, this short booklet reflects recent changes in international law and practice that indicates that recognition of conscientious objection to military service as a human right is now stronger than ever. The publication in available in English, French or Spanish. Read more >> |
Dec 2011
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March 2011
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March 2011
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The Howard League for Penal Reform has launched an independent inquiry into former armed service personnel in prison. The inquiry will seek to discover the reasons why veterans enter the penal system, investigate how former armed service personnel can be given appropriate support to prevent offending and look for good practice and new ideas. Read more >> |
2009
Researchers interviewed service providers and soldiers about self-harm. One of their recommendations is that terms of service should be changed to make it easier for those unhappy in the army to leave. Read more >> |
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The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child soldiers together with a number of leading children’s rights organisations is calling on Parliament to amend Article 323(2)(c) of the 2006 Armed Forces Act in order to implement a total prohibition on the enlistment of any person below the age of 18. Read more >> |
November 2007
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November 2009
In their report on Children's Rights, the UK Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights recommended that the 'UK adopt a plan of action for implementing the Optional Protocol, including these recommendations, fully in the UK, together with a clear timetable for doing so.' The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommendations under the Optional Protocol were that the UK 'reconsider its active policy of recruitment of children into the armed forces' and a number of other measures. Read more >> |
October 2008
Tobias Pflüger, MEP This publication gives a detailed overview of the right to conscientious objection in the countries of the European Union (including candidate countries), and as far as possible of practices regarding this right. It has become obvious that the situation regarding the right to conscientious objection within the European Union is not good. Most countries of the EU are far from conforming with the existing international standards: of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, or the European Parliament.
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Facts and figures about the UK armed forces including information on number of personnel, military spending, recruitment, terms of service, conscientious objection, job satisfaction, and risk of death, serious harm and pychiatric harm. All references are fully sourced.
This report, published by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, "challenges the status quo currently surrounding the situation of young people in the UK armed forces today. It questions the ethics and legality of the restrictions on young recruits’ rights of discharge, their minimum period of service, and their exposure to the risk of hostilities. The report also makes the case for a considered review and debate on the minimum recruitment age. It highlights the evidence that not only is the experience of recruits in the 16 – 18 age bracket adversely affected by their relative lack of maturity, but that their high drop-out rate results in millions of pounds in wasted expenditure."
An independent report highlighting the risks posed to young people through joining the military, how young people from disadvantaged communities are targeted, how information available to potential recruits is often misleading and how the terms of service are complicated, confusing and severely restricting. The research found that a large proportion join for negative reasons, including the lack of civilian career options.
