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Media coverage of our petition to the Scottish Parliament
19/09/2016
On Thursday 15 September, ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland went to the Scottish Parliament to give evidence to the Public Petitions Committee about armed forces visits to schools.
Petition on Military Visits to Scotland’s Schools being heard in Parliament
13/09/2016
A petition calling for increased transparency and scrutiny of armed forces visits to schools in Scotland comes before Holyrood this Thursday 15 September.
UN observations on UK and childrens’ rights
31/08/2016
The Committee on the Rights of the Child recently reviewed the UK’s position on implementing the articles and protocols of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They made a number of recommendations relating to the armed forces recruitment of under-18s and the military’s activities in schools.
Who goes there? Campaigners fight to keep military away from UK schools
Britain is the only EU country to enlist 16-year-olds into the armed services and, say objectors, it starts with access to the classroom.
Concern over activities for school children at Farnborough arms fair
13/07/2016
ForcesWatch is raising ‘serious concerns’ about aspects of the Farnborough International Air Show designed to engage children and young people in careers and ‘exciting’ activities. The‘air show’ is taking place this coming weekend. Associated events this week include a major arms fair, civil aerospace exhibition and hosting of military delegations from some of the world’s most repressive regimes.
Armed Forces Day: ‘It is peace we must strive for, not increasing militarisation’
27/06/2016
This letter from ForcesWatch staff member Douglas Beattie was first published in the Camden New Journal on 23 June 2016 in response to Camden Council’s support of Armed Forces Day.
£2m ‘character education’ grant goes to military-style projects
A third of a £6 million funding pot aimed at building character in school pupils will be targeted at military-style projects, prompting criticism from campaigners.
Where did Osborne’s £50m school cadet forces grant go?
13/06/2016
The impact of a £50 million grant to boost school cadet forces cannot be scrutinised because the government will not release details – although there are few signs of the 100 units a year needed to meet the ambitious target and new figures show a decline in number of school cadets. ForcesWatch are quoted: “This huge amount of money could have been allocated towards educational resources that do not have a military framework and would have far wider appeal.”
Government must take urgent action over Deepcut recommendations
02/06/2016
With the new inquest verdict into the death of Cheryl James at Deepcut, ForcesWatch is calling on Ministers to implement important recommendations for young recruits made in 2005.
MoD increases targeting of 16-year-olds show figures released today
01/06/2016
Figures show that more 16 year olds were recruited in the last year than 17 year olds as the government admits that is intends to increase the number of children it recruits into the armed forces.
Making the link with child development
25/05/2016
Are 16 and 17 year olds developmentally mature enough to make rational decisions about enlisting and once they have joined? The Chair of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania says: 16 years olds “may be more prone to being stressed, to maybe malfunctioning under stress and also not using more rational a decision making approach when they are in that split second.”
Children’s rights groups call on MoD to stop recruiting children
24/05/2016
An open letter to the Ministry of Defence from national children’s organisations and rights groups calls on them to stop recruiting 16 and 17 year olds into the armed forces. The letter has been made public on the same day that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child begins its periodic examination of the UK’s record on child rights. In 2008, the UN urged the UK to raise the enlistment age to 18.
The UN, child rights and the UK military
23/05/2016
This week the long-awaited consideration of the UK’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child takes place. There are numerous issues being discussed, including many ways in which the rights of children are compromised or not adequately recognised by UK authorities.
Also under scrutiny is the recruitment of 16 and 17 year olds, who are still legally children, into the UK armed forces, and UK’s lack of education provision on peace and human rights. As an open letter to the MoD points out, the youngest recruits are ‘actively sought’ for frontline roles.
Soldiers at 16: Sifting fact from fiction
13/05/2016
Published by Child Soldiers International, this short and accessible booklet addresses questions often raised about under-18s in the armed forces, presenting the facts – based on extensive research – rather than the fiction. Also contains very useful quotes and statistics. Great when talking to your MP or for those thinking of enlisting!
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