Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Ukraine
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Ukraine, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/498805c3c.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: 50,658,000
– under-18s: 11,533,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 303,800
– reserves: 1,000,000
– paramilitary: 102,600 - Compulsory recruitment age: 18
- Voluntary recruitment age: 18
- Voting age (government elections): 18
- Child soldiers: none indicated
- CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 7 September 2000; supports the "straight-18" position
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138; ILO 182
- There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
Article 65 of the 1996 Constitution states: "Defence of the motherland, of the independence and territorial indivisibility of Ukraine, and respect for its state symbols, are the duties of citizens of Ukraine. Citizens perform military service in accordance with the law."1996
The former law on military service was the 1992 Universal Liability for Military Service Act of 25 March 1992. According to Article 15 of this law, all citizens who reached 18 years of age might be called up for compulsory military service in time of peace.1997 However, a new Law on Military Duty and Military Service was adopted in June 1999, under which the maximum age of conscripts is to be 25 instead of 27 and the Ukrainian armed forces will be staffed by a mix of conscripts and contract servicemen.1998
Violent 'hazing' of military conscripts is said to be routine. According to information provided by the US State Department, in 1998 10 to 12 military personnel were beaten to death, and a total of 20 to 30 died as an indirect result of injuries sustained from hazing.1999
Child Involvement in Military Activities
According to Ukraine's initial report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, all children in Ukraine receive additional education in different fields, including military-patriotic duty. No further information on this was included in the report.2000
DEVELOPMENTS
International Standards
Ukraine signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 7 September 2000 and supports the "straight-18" position.
1996 Blaustein and Flanz op. cit.
1997 Initial Report of Ukraine to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/8/Add.10, 18/1/95, para.21.
1998 "Ukranian Army will comprise conscripts and contract servicemaen", What the Papers Say, 25/6/99.
1999 US State Department Human Rights Report, 2000.
2000 Report of Ukraine to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, op. cit., para. 123.
