Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Slovakia
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Slovakia, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/498805d02.html [accessed 1 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
- Population:
– total: 5,382,000
– under-18s: 1,357,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 38,600
– reserves: 20,000 approx.
– paramilitary: 2,600 - Compulsory recruitment age: 18
- Voluntary recruitment age: 17
- Voting age (government elections): 18
- Child soldiers: indicated in government armed forces
- CRC-OP-CAC: not signed
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138; ILO 182
- There are indications of under-18s in government armed forces as the voluntary recruitment age is seventeen. Attendance at military schools can start at the age of fifteen. The government has indicated that it will be passing legislation prohibiting military service under eighteen.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
Article 25 of the 1992 Constitution states that "1. The defence of the Slovak Republic is the honourable privilege and duty of every citizen. 2. No person may be forced to perform military duties if it is contrary to his or her conscience or religious faith or conviction. Further details shall be specified by law."1719 Constitutional amendments in February 2001 included new provisions on the deployment of troops outside of Slovakia and the establishment of an ombudsman for vulnerable groups, including children. There are two acts which regulate military service: namely, the Conscription Act (Act No. 351/97 Coll. of 21 November 1997) and the Act on Military Service (Act No. 370/97 Coll of 21 November 1997).
All men who have reached the age of 18 years in a given year are called up for military service. According to official information received by the Coalition, it is likely that 17-year-olds could be called to perform compulsory military service.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Slovak Republic plans to amend a number of laws concerning military service so that children under 18 cannot be called up to perform military service,1720 although there are presently no children under 18 performing compulsory military service. Citizens who wish to join the army earlier may be given permission to do so as of 1 January of the year in which they turn 17. The consent of legal representatives is required in such cases.1721 Women may be called up in times of emergency only.1722
In addition, according to the Slovakian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, a Slovakian citizen can become a professional member of the armed forces only if he is 18-years-old and if he has performed his military service. This means that no children can become professional soldiers.1723 The Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic states that there are no children under 18 serving obligatory service in the year 2001.1724
Amnesty International reported in 2000 that conscientious objectors to military service face prosecution and imprisonment. The Slovakian armed forces are in the process of restructuring and there is a planned reduction of soldiers to 30,000 by 2002. In addition, the military service term has been reduced from 12 to 9 months due to pressure from public opinion, NGOs and human rights activists.1725 The aim of these reforms is to transform the army into a professional force.1726
Military Training and Military Schools
A new system of training is being introduced in order to respond to reductions in personnel and duration of compulsory military service. The Military school system in Slovakia consists of Military Academies and Secondary Schools. According to official sources the minimum age for entering military school is 15 but students are not considered members of the armed forces. According to paragraph 52(1)(a) of the Act on Military Service, a student at the military secondary school may perform military service during his study at that school, and can start performing military service one day after reaching 17 years in order that this service is completed by the age of 18.1727
DEVELOPMENTS
International Standards
The government is considering ratification of the CRC-OP-CAC in the year 2001 after the completion of the legislative process on Conscription Act No. 351/1997 Coll.
1719 http://www.urich.edu/jpjones/confinder/const.htm.
1720 Reply of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic to the questions of CSC, 5/3/01.
1721 According to paragraph 7 of the Conscription Act. See also Initial report of Slovakia to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/11/Add.17, 17/8/98, para. 15.
1722 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
1723 Paragraph 8, 1(a) of the Act on Military service. Fax from the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the UN in Geneva to CSC, 22/11/99.
1724 Information provided by the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, 5/3/01.
1725 Ibid.
1726 Newsline, 20/10/99 Slovak Army to Cut Staff.
1727 Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic, 22/11/99 op. cit.
