Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Macedonia
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2004 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Macedonia, 2004, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4988064628.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. |
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Covers the period from April 2001 to March 2004.
Population: 2.0 million (0.5 million under 18)
Government armed forces: 12,850
Compulsory recruitment age: 19
Voluntary recruitment age: 18
Voting age: 18
Optional Protocol: ratified 12 January 2004
Other treaties ratified (see glossary): CRC, GC AP I and II, ICC, ILO 138, ILO 182
There were no reports of under-18s serving in the armed forces.
Context
The international community continued to support the peace process that followed the armed conflict in 2001 between the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army and Macedonian government forces in the north and west. In March 2003 a European Union (EU) coalition of troops – EUFOR – replaced NATO forces in the protection of monitors from the EU and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In December 2003 an EU police force took over from EUFOR.1
Government
National recruitment legislation and practice
Under the constitution, "The defence of the Republic of Macedonia is the right and duty of every citizen" (Article 24).2
In its declaration on signing the Optional Protocol in July 2001, Macedonia stated that the Defence Law does not allow under-18s to serve in the armed forces. To ensure that children do not join the armed forces, call-up notices are not sent to individuals until they are 19 years old. Those who volunteer to begin service earlier may start three months after their application, provided they have reached the age of 18.3
Although the Defence Law states that "all male citizens of the Republic, aged 17 to 55, are obligated to fulfil their military obligations" (Article 3), the obligations relate to potential draftees within this age bracket having their names registered in military records (Article 51). During a state of war or national emergency, the minimum age for participation in the Civil Protection Forces is 18 for both men and women, with military service in the armed forces subject to the same regulations as in peacetime (Articles 11-13).4
The period of conscription was reduced from nine to six months following an amendment to the Defence Act in March 2003.5 The armed forces are undergoing reforms aimed at professionalizing the military and assisting its integration with NATO.6
Military training and military schools
Under the Law on the Military Academy and the Book of Rules, which regulate admissions to the Military Academy, entrants must have completed at least four years of secondary education.7 This could permit under-18s to enter the Academy. Under the Army Service Regulation Law, cadets in training at the Academy do not possess ranks but only "status marks" (Article 37), and are therefore not members of the armed forces. The Law additionally stipulates that service personnel must be "adults", which by law is defined as 18 years old (Articles 24 and 25).8
1 Amnesty International Report 2004, http://web. amnesty.org/library/engindex.
2 Constitution, at Ministry of Defence, http://www.morm.gov.mk/english/Constitution/constitution2.htm.
3 Defence Law (Article 62), at Ministry of Defence, http://www.morm.gov.mk; Declaration of Macedonia on signing the Optional Protocol, July 2001, http://untreaty.un.org (subscription required).
4 Defence Law, op. cit.
5 MIA News Agency, "Macedonian Assembly's security committee approves military service bill", 13 March 2003, reported in South East European Security Monitor, Centre for South East European Studies, http://www.csees.net (SEE Security Monitor).
6 BBC Monitoring citing MIA News Agency, "Macedonian government adopts draft plan for defence restructuring", 12 May 2004, reported in SEE Security Monitor, op. cit.
7 Military Academy of the Republic of Macedonia, http://www.va.edu.mk (Preface; Cadets).
8 Army Service Regulation Law, at Ministry of Defence, op. cit.; Initial report of Macedonia to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/8/Add.36, 27 July 1997, http://www.ohchr.org.
