Child Soldiers Global Report 2008 - Barbados
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 20 May 2008 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2008 - Barbados, 20 May 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/486cb0e8c.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. |
Population: 270,000 (63,000 under 18)
Government Armed Forces: 600
Compulsary Recruitment Age: no conscription
Voluntary Recruitment Age: 18 (younger with parental consent)
Voting Age: 18
Optional Protocol: not signed
Other Treaties: GC AP I, GC AP II, CRC, ILO 138, ILO 182, ICC
Under-18s could enlist with parental consent. In 2007 there was reportedly one under-18 in the armed forces.
Government:
National recruitment legislation and practice
The Barbados Defence Force comprised regular and reserve forces, a cadet corps and the coastguard. There was no conscription, and volunteers for enlistment to the regular and reserve force had to be at least 18. However, the Defence Act also allowed the possibility for under-18s to enlist with the consent of parents or legal guardians (Chapter 159, Article 19.2).1 In 2007 there was one under-18 in the regular force who enlisted with parental consent at 17 years and 9 months.2
The 12-year term of service could be partly served in the reserve.3 Enlistment in the regular force could be for an initial period of six years, with two three-year increments.4
Under the Police Act, the police force had to perform military duties in addition to maintaining law and order (Section II.5).5 In 2006 there were nearly 1,500 police constables. Regular and special police constables had to be at least 19 to join the force.6
Military training and military schools
Initial and further training was conducted locally. Additional training was provided regionally by Jamaica, Trinidad, Belize, the Regional Security System7 and the French Forces of the Antilles. Training was also provided by the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada and, more recently, the People's Republic of China.8
In 2006 there were around 1,360 members of the Barbados Cadet Corps in 22 units in secondary-schools. Students could enrol in the cadet corps from the age of 11. Cadet training included leadership and character-building, band training, sea cadet training, adventure training, archery, paramedical and first aid, and catering.9
1 Latin American School of Social Sciences (FLACSO), Security and Citizenship Program, Latin America and the Caribbean Security Sector Report, Country case study: Barbados, October 2006, www.flacso.cl.
2 Information from Coalition source.
3 FLACSO, above note 1.
4 Information from Coalition source.
5 FLACSO, above note 1.
6 Royal Barbados Police Force, Human Resources, Recruitment, www.barbadospolice.gov.bb.
7 The Regional Security System comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; see www.rss.org.bb.
8 Information from Coalition source.
9 Ibid.
