Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Uruguay
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Uruguay, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/498805c1a.html [accessed 4 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. |
EASTERN REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
- Population:
– total: 3,313,000
– under-18s: 976,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 23,700
– paramilitary: 920 - Compulsory recruitment age: 18
- Voluntary recruitment age: 18
- Voting age (government elections): 18
- Child soldiers: none indicated
- CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 7 September 200 and supports "straight-18"position
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138
- There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
Uruguay does not have compulsory military service. All recruitment into the armed forces is voluntary and the recruitment of persons below 18 years of age is prohibited, without exception, even in war time.2096 There is no distinction between the age of recruitment and the age of deployment or participation in hostilities.2097
DEVELOPMENTS
International Standards
Uruguay signed CRC-OP-CAC on 7 September 2000, and supports a "straight-18"position. Upon ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Uruguay made a declaration that: "The Government of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay affirms, in regard to the provisions of article 38, paragraphs 2 and 3, that in accordance with Uruguayan law it would have been desirable for the lower age limit for taking part in hostilities in the event of an armed conflict to be set at 18 years instead of 15 years as provided in the Convention." Furthermore, the Government of Uruguay declared that "in the exercise of its sovereign will, it will not authorise any persons under its jurisdiction who have not attained the age of 18 years to take a direct part in hostilities and will not under any circumstances recruit persons who have not attained the age of 18 years."
Uruguay hosted the Latin American Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers in July 1999.
2096 Initial Report of Uruguay submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/3/Add.37, para. 276, 13/11/95.
2097 Communication from the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations Office in Geneva, sent to the QUNO, 5/12/97.
