Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Dominican Republic
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Dominican Republic, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49880600c.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. |
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
- Population:
– total: 8,364,000
– under-18s: 3,306,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 24,500
– paramilitary: 15,000 - Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
- Voluntary recruitment age: 18
- Voting age in government elections: 18
- Child soldiers: none indicated
- CRC-OP-CAC: not signed
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138; ILO 182
- There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces. National legislation provides for the special protection of children at times of war.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
The 1966 Constitution, as amended in 1994, provides in Article 9(b) that "Every able-bodied Dominican has the duty to perform the civilian and military services his country may require for its defence and preservation," but there is no compulsory military service. Persons may voluntarily enlist in the armed forces as from the age of 18.605
Act No. 14-94, which established the Code for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, stipulates that in the event of war, priority protection shall be given to children and adolescents.606
605 Initial report of the Dominican Republic to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/8/Add.40, para. 35.(26/8/99).
606 Ibid; Domincan law defines children as persons up to the age of 12 and adolescents as persons aged between 13 and 18.
