Child Soldiers Ratification Campaign

Ireland

Ireland accepts voluntary recruits from the age of 17, but does not use them in operations. There have been some indications that Ireland might be willing to re-consider its policy and adopt a "straight-18" position, most recently in a communication with the Coalition in April 2001. Ireland has traditionally championed human security and humanitarian issues such as landmines.

Success! On November 18, 2002, Ireland ratified the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts.

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