Appendix III: Draft Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts
| Date | 01 March 2000 |
| Published date | 01 March 2000 |
| DOI | 10.1177/092405190001800111 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Appendix III: Draft Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed
Conflicts
At its sixth session held from 10 to 21 January 2000, the open-ended working group of
the Commission on Human Rights entrusted with the elaboration
of
a draft optional
of
children in
armed conflicts has completed its mandate by adopting by consensus, on 21 January, the
text
of
the draft optional protocol. The draft optional protocol will now be submitted to
the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-sixth session (20 March-28 April 2000) for
consideration and approval and then, through the Economic and Social Council, to the
General Assembly for final adoption.
The unedited English version
of
the text of the draft optional protocol is reproduced
below.
PP1: Encouraged by the overwhelming support for the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, demonstrating the widespread commitment that exists to strive for the promotion
and protection
of
the rights of the child.
PP2: Reaffirming that the rights
of
children require special protection and calling for
continuous improvement of the situation of children without distinction, as well as for
their development and education in conditions of peace and security.
PP3: Disturbed by the harmful and widespread impact of armed conflict on children and
the long-term consequences this has for durable peace, security and development.
PP4: Condemning the targeting of children in situations of armed conflict and direct
attacks on objects protected under international law, including places generally having a
significant presence
of
children, such as schools and hospitals.
PP5: Noting the adoption
of
the Statute of the International Criminal Court, in particular
the inclusion
of
conscripting or enlisting children under the age
of
fifteen years or using
them to participate actively in hostilities as a war crime in both international and non-
international armed conflicts.
PP6: Considering therefore that to strengthen further the implementation of rights
recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, there is a need to increase the
protection of children from involvement in armed conflict.
PP7: Noting that Article 1
of
the Convention on the Rights
of
the Child specifies that, for
the purposes
of
that Convention, a child means every human being below the age of 18
years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.
PP8: Convinced that an Optional Protocol to the Convention, raising the age
of
possible
recruitment
of
persons into armed forces and their participation in hostilities, will
contribute effectively to the implementation
of
the principle that the best interests of the
child are to be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children.
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