NationStates Jolt Archive

The Republic of New Off-Color Remarks has listened to the counsels of other nations regarding the recent proposal to ban child soldiers. After some consideration, we have completely rewritten it to reflect new ideas and other perspectives. Here is the full text of the proposal, as recently submitted to the UN for consideration.

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Description: To protect the universal human rights of children in all UN member nations, and to halt the appalling practice of minors fighting in wars, be it resolved by this assembly that:

I. [Minors in battle] No child or minor in any UN member nation shall serve in active duty for the armed forces of that nation or any other nation. No member nation shall conscript minors for active duty in any war or armed conflict.

II. [Recruitment of minors] No member nation shall actively recruit minors for the armed forces. However, a minor (with the legal permission of his parent or guardian) may request materials or other contact pertaining to recruitment. ONCE LEGAL PERMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN, A MINOR MAY BE ACTIVELY RECRUITED AS AN ADULT. Minors may attend open recruiting events; however, this does not grant legal permission for active recruitment.

IIb. [Concerning adults] All member nations shall reserve the right to blitz any and all adult citizens of their nation with recruitment materials and contacts, including but not limited to annoying phone calls during dinner, shiny pamphlets with lots of pictures, emails, letters with scholarship offers, and obnoxious flag-waving events.

III. [Penalties] Any member nation found to be in violation of the above may not purchase arms from any other member nation for one year. If after this period the nation is still in violation, further actions may be taken by the UN to bring the nation into compliance.

IV. [Definitions] A child or minor is any person under 18 years of age. An adult is any person 18 years of age or older. Active recruitment includes calls, visits, letters, emails, and ANY other contact directed specifically at one person for the purpose of recruiting.
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Thanks especially to Zeppistan for their excellent suggestions.

Colin Dunn
Delegate to the UN
New Off-Color Remarks

I believe an exception should be made for nations in which the age of majority is less than eighteen years. If, say, Farawaystan law says that their citizens are adults at the age of sixteen, then I would argue that they should be allowed to enter military service at that age.

Wow! A proposal that actually WOULD fall under the UN's jurisdiction!!!

I have a question, and of course, I'm nitpicking...

What about underdeveloped countries or developed countries with tribal societies existing therein in which young boys come of age much earlier than 18? It is common for lesser-developed countries to use younger people in armed forces because they believe adulthood comes at a much earlier age.

I think there can definitely be a good proposal here, but I think 18 is a Western-Centric view of adulthood that kinda forgets that other cultures have different beliefs than we do. let's say 14 or 16 instead of 18. Even 16 sounds a little better to me.

Otherwise, I think it's a legitimate issue for the NS UN to tackle...the use of minors in combat. I Do beleive, however, that this restriction should be to COMBAT ROLES ONLY. I see no problem with allowing younger children to work in support roles if they are suited for it. Armed forces need mail-sorters, clerks, and more. In some countries, the armed forces raise and grow their own foods. They run stores and businesses, etc. So long as the minors are workign within their nation's labor laws, and ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed in harm's way (combat situation or in a combat POSSIBLE situtation...i.e. don't let them serve in an anti-aircraft missle base that will LIKELY be targetted in case of war) I have no problem with it.

I think that the age limit should be 16. But only 16 in the case of an emergency, like there is a limited number of regular soldiers.

I don't think you can really differentiate between emergency and non-emergency.

War is pretty much as 'emergency-like' as it gets. Any country that feels like it's going to lose a war is most definitely in "emergency status."

If you're setting an age of what the UN feels is okay for war (which, btw, is somewhat silly since war is the absense of international law), it's pretty much cut and dry.

I figure if a 6 year old wants to join the military, we can guarantee a quality education...

I believe an exception should be made for nations in which the age of majority is less than eighteen years. If, say, Farawaystan law says that their citizens are adults at the age of sixteen, then I would argue that they should be allowed to enter military service at that age.

The problem is that this could be exploited as a loophole. For example, suppose that Parmistan declared the age of adulthood to be ten. If the proposal allowed the age of adulthood to be individually determined by each nation, Parmistan could legally field 10-year-old soldiers. The choice of 18 as the age of adulthood is somewhat arbitrary, but it is intended to protect the most children possible. Changing the proposal as you suggest would emasculate it.

Colin Dunn
Delegate to the UN
New Off-Color Remarks

Will there be an exception for a nation's self-defense? If a small nation is attacked, it is reasonable for the government and the citizenry to mobilize all able-bodied people in that nation's defense, including teenagers.

Wow! A proposal that actually WOULD fall under the UN's jurisdiction!!!

I have a question, and of course, I'm nitpicking...

What about underdeveloped countries or developed countries with tribal societies existing therein in which young boys come of age much earlier than 18? It is common for lesser-developed countries to use younger people in armed forces because they believe adulthood comes at a much earlier age.

I think there can definitely be a good proposal here, but I think 18 is a Western-Centric view of adulthood that kinda forgets that other cultures have different beliefs than we do. let's say 14 or 16 instead of 18. Even 16 sounds a little better to me.

Otherwise, I think it's a legitimate issue for the NS UN to tackle...the use of minors in combat. I Do beleive, however, that this restriction should be to COMBAT ROLES ONLY. I see no problem with allowing younger children to work in support roles if they are suited for it. Armed forces need mail-sorters, clerks, and more. In some countries, the armed forces raise and grow their own foods. They run stores and businesses, etc. So long as the minors are workign within their nation's labor laws, and ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed in harm's way (combat situation or in a combat POSSIBLE situtation...i.e. don't let them serve in an anti-aircraft missle base that will LIKELY be targetted in case of war) I have no problem with it.


We the PROA feel it would be easiest if the right to fight in a nations armed forces, unless manditory such as ourselves, was dependant on the nations own definition of adulthood. A simple indicator could, for example be voting age, or drinking age. Obviously this would have to be worked out. Perhaps, the definition of child labour could come into play if it does not already cover this issue.

I think the wording of the resolution would make ROTC illegal, and depending on your definition, Boy Scouts may be illegal as well. They may be a private organization, but they are considered paramilitary.

The Republic of New Off-Color Remarks has listened to the counsels of other nations regarding the recent proposal to ban child soldiers. After some consideration, we have completely rewritten it to reflect new ideas and other perspectives. Here is the full text of the proposal, as recently submitted to the UN for consideration.

-----
Description: To protect the universal human rights of children in all UN member nations, and to halt the appalling practice of minors fighting in wars, be it resolved by this assembly that:

I. [Minors in battle] No child or minor in any UN member nation shall serve in active duty for the armed forces of that nation or any other nation. No member nation shall conscript minors for active duty in any war or armed conflict.

II. [Recruitment of minors] No member nation shall actively recruit minors for the armed forces. However, a minor (with the legal permission of his parent or guardian) may request materials or other contact pertaining to recruitment. ONCE LEGAL PERMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN, A MINOR MAY BE ACTIVELY RECRUITED AS AN ADULT. Minors may attend open recruiting events; however, this does not grant legal permission for active recruitment.

IIb. [Concerning adults] All member nations shall reserve the right to blitz any and all adult citizens of their nation with recruitment materials and contacts, including but not limited to annoying phone calls during dinner, shiny pamphlets with lots of pictures, emails, letters with scholarship offers, and obnoxious flag-waving events.

III. [Penalties] Any member nation found to be in violation of the above may not purchase arms from any other member nation for one year. If after this period the nation is still in violation, further actions may be taken by the UN to bring the nation into compliance.

IV. [Definitions] A child or minor is any person under 18 years of age. An adult is any person 18 years of age or older. Active recruitment includes calls, visits, letters, emails, and ANY other contact directed specifically at one person for the purpose of recruiting.
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Thanks especially to Zeppistan for their excellent suggestions.

Colin Dunn
Delegate to the UN
New Off-Color Remarks

The FLOT will not endorse this proposal as long as clauss IIb remains. Also, a major loophole in clause IV ..."directed specifically at one person for the purpose of recruiting." ... what if they were directed specifically at two or more people?

We the PROA feel it would be easiest if the right to fight in a nations armed forces, unless manditory such as ourselves, was dependant on the nations own definition of adulthood. A simple indicator could, for example be voting age, or drinking age. Obviously this would have to be worked out. Perhaps, the definition of child labour could come into play if it does not already cover this issue.

The FLOT fully agrees with the PROA, on the condition that a very base leve is established. We feel that a nation has the right to determine the age of majority in its own country, but would like to see that that age is at least 12 years old, which is approximately when most humans are achieving puberty.

Will there be an exception for a nation's self-defense? If a small nation is attacked, it is reasonable for the government and the citizenry to mobilize all able-bodied people in that nation's defense, including teenagers.

Is it? Some nations may feel that way.

I feel that if someone wants to join the military, I feel that they should be allowed.

If a child wishes to do so, we will educate them until they are ready to actively serve. I think it is my right to train the children as I see fit under the "Free Education" resolution that passed.