Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Cyprus
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Cyprus, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49880603c.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. |
CONTEXT
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
Cyprus has been a de facto divided country since the Turkish invasion of 1974. Since then the southern part of the island has been under the control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The northern part of the island has proclaimed itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is occupied by Turkish armed forces. This entity, although recognised only by Turkey, has its own authorities and conscription system.535 For these reasons it is treated separately in this report without implying any position in relation to its status or legitimacy. The two parts are separated by a buffer zone patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force, UNFICYP.
REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
- Population:
– total: 778,000
– under-18-s: 222,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 10,000
– reserves: 60,000
– paramilitary: 750 - Compulsory recruitment age: 18
- Voluntary recruitment age: 17
- Voting age (government elections): 21
- Child soldiers: indicated – 200-300 under-18s annually recruited into government forces; possibly less than 5% of annual recruits
- CRC-OP-CAC: not signed
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO138+182
- There are indications of under-18s in government armed forces as voluntary recruitment is possible from the age of 17. The annual intake of under-18s is estimated at about 200-300. It is likely that under-18s are deployed since there is no distinction between the age for recruitment and deployment.
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
Conscription is enshrined in the 1960 Constitution in its Article 10(3) (b). The present legal basis of conscription is the 1961 Military Service Law.536 According to information provided by the government, the minimum age for conscription is 18 and one can volunteer for military service from the age of 17.537 The Government has stated that there is no distinction between the age of recruitment and the age of deployment.538 The police and priests are exempt from military service, as are the Members of the Armenian, Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Maronite churches.539
Child Recruitment
According to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus, 17-year-old volunteers comprise not more than 5% of new conscripts each year and have usually turned 18 by the time they complete basic training, "[t]hus in practice there are no under-18s in the main body of the armed forces."540 The number of under-18s recruited annually is approximately 200-300.541
Military Training and Military Schools
Completion of military service is a criterion for admission to institutes of higher education. Sixteen-year-old youths may be prevented from leaving Cyprus if they are thought to be avoiding military service.542 In 1998 the government stated that the minimum age for enrolment into military schools or institutions was 18.543 More recently the government reported that there are no military schools in the Republic of Cyprus.544
TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS
Data presented here represent the de facto situation on the northern part of the island.
- Population: 215,000545
- Government armed forces:
– active: 5,000
– reserves: 26,000 - Compulsory recruitment age: 18
- Voluntary recruitment age: unknown
- Child soldiers: unknown
- CRC-OP-CAC: not signed or ratified as not UN member state
- Other treaties ratified: not signed or ratified as not UN member state
- It is not known whether there are under-18s in government armed forces due to lack of information on voluntary recruitment age.
Recruitment Legislation and Practice
Northern Cyprus allegedly applies conscription but its current legal basis is unclear. Most likely the laws and regulations pertaining to it are derived from and similar to the Turkish military service laws.546 The length of military service is 24 months. Call-up for military service takes place at the age of 18.547 In August 1999 the Council of Ministers proposed legislative changes which would exempt citizens from national service for a fee of US$12,000, and exempt those with a doctoral degree for US$9,000.548
535 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
536 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
537 Communication from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations sent to QUNO, 6/2/98. Information confirmed by the Permanent Mission in the answer given to CSC, 16/8/99.
538 Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus, 16/8/98 op. cit.
539 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
540 Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus on 6/2/98 op. cit. and also 16/8/99 op. cit.
541 Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus, 16/8/99 op. cit.
542 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
543 Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus, 6/2/98 op. cit.
544 Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus, 16/8/99 op. cit.
545 IISS, The Military Balance op. cit.
546 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
547 http://www.rb.se// Source: War Resisters International.
548 Turkish Cypriot Press Summary, 28 and 30/8/99, http://www.trncwashdc.org/News.html.
