Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Madagascar
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Madagascar, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/498805e517.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| 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 MADAGASCAR
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
- Population:
– total: 15,497,000
– under-18s: 7,814,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 21,000
– paramilitary: 7,900 - Compulsory recruitment age: unknown
- Voluntary recruitment age: unknown
- Voting age (government elections): 18
- Child soldiers: unknown
- CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 7 September 2000
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138
- It is not known if there are any under-18s in government armed forces due to lack of information about recruitment age.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
Military conscription is enshrined in Article 18 of the Constitution of Madagascar which states that: "National service shall be an honourable duty".1173 Nevertheless, no information is available on the requirements for performing military service, which lasts for 18 months. There is a possibility to carry out military service outside the armed forces.1174
In its report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Madagascar claimed that "no legal provision on national service or a state of national necessity requires children to take a direct part in hostilities. Malagasy law contains no provision for children under 18 years of age to be enlisted for service in a situation of armed conflict."1175 Further information on current recruitment practice is not available.
DEVELOPMENTS
International Standards
Madagascar signed the CRC OP-CAC on 7 September 2000.
1173 The legal basis for conscription is believed to be Order No. 78-003 on National Service of 6 March 1978.
1174 According to Article 4 of Order No. 78-003: "Military personnel assigned to the armed forces may be transferred outside the armed forces, and vice versa, either at their own request or on official orders, provided that those assigned outside the armed forces have been found medically fit for military service.".
1175 Initial report of Madagascar to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/8/Add.5, 13/9/93, para. 257.
