Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Seychelles
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Seychelles, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/498805d121.html [accessed 20 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 SEYCHELLES
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
- Population:
– total: 77,000
– under-18s: 40,550 - Government armed forces:
– active: 450
– paramilitary (active): 250 - Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
- Voluntary recruitment age: unknown
- Voting age (government elections): 18
- Child soldiers: unknown
- CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 23 January 2001
- Other treaties ratified: ACRWC; CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138; ILO 182
- It is not known if there are any under-18s in government armed forces due to lack of information about minimum voluntary recruitment age. Children are encouraged to participate in a National Youth Service, however.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
According to most sources, there is no military conscription in the Seychelles. Military service is on a voluntary basis according to the government, although the minimum age is not known.
Military Training and Military Schools
A National Youth Service (NYS) does exist and was compulsory until 1993. It is not clear whether military training is still part of this service. Participation in the NYS seems to be voluntary but it is still a requirement before admission to the Polytechnic School for Vocational Training. Before 1993 it was a requirement for getting a government job. The minimum age for the NYS is not known but "the Government strongly encourages children to fulfil one year of National Youth Service (NYS) before entering the work force at the age of l6 or the Polytechnic School for Vocational Training".1659 It is not known if there is a link between the NYS and the military recruitment.1660
DEVELOPMENTS
International Standards
Seychelles signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 23 January 2001.
1659 US State Department of State Human Rights Report, 30/1/98.
1660 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.; RB has stated that any link between the NYS and the armed forces stopped in the late 1980s and thus there is no military training any more for participants in this service.
