Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

E87399

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict is an international human rights treaty that strengthens protections for children by raising the minimum age for compulsory recruitment and direct participation in hostilities and prohibiting their use in armed conflict.


Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf international human rights treaty
optional protocol
adoptedBy United Nations General Assembly
adoptionDate 2000-05-25
aim strengthen protection of children in armed conflict
appliesTo non-state armed groups
state armed forces
basedOn principle of the best interests of the child
category United Nations treaty
children's rights treaty
human rights instrument
depository Secretary-General of the United Nations
enteredIntoForce 2002-02-12
language Arabic
Chinese
English
French
Russian
Spanish
legalStatus in force
monitoringBody Committee on the Rights of the Child
obliges states to demobilize persons recruited or used in hostilities contrary to the Protocol
states to provide assistance for physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of affected children
openedForSignature 2000-05-25
partOf Convention on the Rights of the Child
placeOfAdoption New York City NERFINISHED
prohibits compulsory recruitment of persons under 18 into armed forces
direct participation in hostilities by persons under 18
recruitment of children under 18 by non-state armed groups
use of children under 18 in armed conflict
protects persons under 18 years of age in situations of armed conflict
purpose raise international standards on minimum age for military recruitment and participation in hostilities
relatedInstrument Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
relatesTo Convention on the Rights of the Child
requires states to raise minimum age for voluntary recruitment above 15
states to set safeguards for voluntary recruitment of persons under 18
states to take legal measures to prohibit and criminalize recruitment of children under 18 by armed groups
submission of periodic reports by states parties to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
setsMinimumAgeForCompulsoryRecruitment 18 years
shortName OPAC
subject children in armed conflict
topic child soldiers
participation of children in hostilities
recruitment of children


Please wait…