Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Poland
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2004 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Poland, 2004, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4988063528.html [accessed 18 October 2022] |
| 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. |
Republic of Poland
Covers the period from April 2001 to March 2004.
Population: 38.6 million (8.8 million under 18)
Government armed forces: 163,000
Compulsory recruitment age: 18
Voluntary recruitment age: 17
Voting age: 18
Optional Protocol: signed 13 February 2002
Other treaties ratified (see glossary): CRC, GC AP I and II, ICC, ILO 138, ILO 182
The minimum age for voluntary recruitment was 17, but it was not known whether 17 year olds were serving in the armed forces.
Context
Incidents of police ill-treatment were reported; prostitutes, the Roma community and victims of trafficking were the most vulnerable.1 Poland had a significant military presence among the US-led occupation forces in Iraq, and had soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Poland also contributed almost 2,000 troops to a number of UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.2
Government
National recruitment legislation and practice
The constitution states that "It shall be the duty of every Polish citizen to defend the Homeland" and that "Any citizen whose religious convictions or moral principles do not allow him to perform military service may be obliged to perform substitute service" (Article 85).3
In February 2002 Poland reported to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that "A person who has attained 18 years of age may be called up for military service pursuant to the Law of 21 November 1967 on the Universal Obligation to Defend the Republic of Poland".4 All male citizens between the ages of 18 and 28 are liable for military service (Article 58). The duration of military service is 12 months, or six months for higher education graduates and two months for graduates of medical academies. Conscripts may request service in the police, border guards or civil defence, which lasts for 18 months. Reservist obligations apply up to the age of 60 but in practice no one is called up for reservist training.5 Women aged between 18 and 40 who have skills required by the armed forces may be liable for compulsory military service.6
On ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, Poland made a reservation concerning the application of Article 38 stating that "The law of the Republic of Poland shall determine the age from which call-up to military or similar service and participation in military operations is permissible. That age limit may not be lower than the age limit set out in Article 38 of the Convention [15 years]".7 Subsequently, Poland informed the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 1994 that an amendment was planned to the 1967 law providing for conscription, to remove the possibility of conscription of men who have not reached the age of 18 years.8 However, as Poland reported to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2002, that law set no age limits on voluntary recruitment.9 The 1970 Law on Regular Military Service specifies that voluntary recruitment may begin from the age of 17.10
Military training and military schools
In recent years Poland has been reforming its military education system. In 2004 there were four military academies, four military colleges, 11 warrant officers' colleges, 10 vocational schools for non-commissioned officers and 12 military high schools. Poland regularly sends recruits abroad for training, including by serving "on the job" within the defence structures of other countries.11
Developments
Poland has been scaling down its armed forces as part of moves towards professionalization. The Ministry of Defence has announced that the armed forces will number 150,000 by 2006.12
1 Amnesty International Report 2004, http://web. amnesty.org/library/engindex.
2 Information from Ministry of Defence, http://www.wp.mil.pl.
3 Constitution, at Sejm (lower house of parliament) website, http://www.sejm.gov.pl/english/konstytucja/kon1.htm.
4 Second periodic report of Poland to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/70/Add.12, 6 February 2002, http://www.ohchr.org.
5 Immigration and Nationality Directorate, United Kingdom (UK) Home Office, Poland Country Report, October 2003, formerly at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk (now at European Country of Origin Information Network, http://www.ecoi.net), citing information from UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British embassy in Warsaw, and B. Horeman and M. Stolwijk, Refusing to Bear Arms: A World Survey of Conscription and Conscientious Objection to Military Service, War Resisters International, London, 1998, http://www.wri-irg.org/co/rtba.
6 Committee on Women in the NATO Forces, Year in Review 2001, http://www.nato.int/ims/2001/win/poland.htm.
7 Reservation made by Poland on ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, http://www.ohchr.org.
8 Initial report of Poland to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/8/Add.11, 31 January 1994.
9 Second periodic report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, op. cit.
10 Initial report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, op. cit.
11 Information from Ministry of Defence, op. cit.
12 US Department of State, Background Note: Poland, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2875.htm.
