PRINCIPALITY FOR ANDORRA

Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.

  • Population:
    – total: 75,000
    – under-18s: 15,000
  • Government armed forces: nil
  • Compulsory recruitment age: not applicable
  • Voluntary recruitment age: not applicable
  • Voting age (government elections): 18
  • Child soldiers: none indicated
  • CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 7 September 2000; ratified on 30 April 2001 ; supports "straight-18" position
  • Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC
  • There are no indications of under-18s as the country has no armed forces. Andorra is the fourth country to ratify the CRC-OP-CAC and has stated its strong opposition to all forms of recruitment under the age of eighteen.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Article 38 of the 1993 Constitution under chapter VI ( Duties of Andorran nationals and of aliens) states: "The State may create by law types of community service to pursue tasks of general interest."58 Andorra has no defence force other than a ceremonial unit and depends on neighbouring Spain and France for external defence. The national police, under effective civilian control, have sole responsibility for internal security.59 The recruitment age for the Andorran police force is between 19 and 35 years of age.60

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

Andorra signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 7 September 2000 and became the fourth country to ratify the instrument in April 2001. Andorra supports the "straight-18" position. In its binding declaration upon ratification, the government stated that the recruitment of children under the age of 18 should not be permitted under any circumstance.61

58 Information provided by fax by the Ministry of Foreign Relations from Andorra to CSC on 19/4/01.

59 US State Department Human Rights Report, 2000.

60 http://www.policia.ad/english/organi/units_groups.html.

61 Communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to CSC on 474/01; The same position was stated by Andorra when ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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