Population: 102,000 (43,000 under 18)
Government Armed Forces: not known
Compulsary Recruitment Age: no conscription
Voluntary Recruitment Age: 16
Voting Age: 21
Optional Protocol: not signed
Other Treaties: GC AP I, GC AP II, CRC

The minimum age of voluntary recruitment to the Tonga Defence Services was 16.

Context:

Following the death of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in September 2006, a government committee recommended that all lawmakers be elected by the public. Government delays in enacting democratic reforms sparked rioting in Nuku'alofa in November 2006 which left six people dead.1 A state of emergency, banning gatherings of more than four people, was subsequently declared and was extended until May 2007.2 Reports indicated that around 600 people, including children, had been detained and subjected to torture and other abuse.3 Following the riots, the government agreed to hold parliamentary elections in 2008.4

Government:

National recruitment legislation and practice

Under-18s could enlist in the defence services with the consent in writing of the person's parents or guardian. If the required consent could not "reasonably be obtained", the consent of a magistrate could be obtained instead. The minimum age of recruitment was 16.5 There was no conscription.

Article 22 of the 1988 constitution states that "It shall be lawful for the King to command any taxpayer to join the militia for the purpose of instruction or for parade on public occasions should he think fit and also in time of war to call out all those capable of bearing arms and to make orders and regulations for their control and provisioning." No minimum age of recruitment is specified, although Article 64 of the constitution states that "Every Tongan subject of twenty-one years of age or more who being a male and not a noble pays taxes", making them liable to be conscripted into a militia.6 It was not clear, however, whether under-21s were protected from conscription in the militia.

1 "Six found dead after Tonga riots", BBC News, 17 November 2006.

2 "Tonga extends state of emergency", 16 April 2007, www. news.com.au/; "Tonga MP warns continuing state of emergency could lead to more violence", Radio New Zealand International, 16 April 2007, www. rnzi.com.

3 "Tongan authorities accused of human rights violations," ABC news online,13 December 2006, www. abc.net.au.

4 "People's reps say govt. has agreed to 2008 elections", Tonga-Now, 16 November 2006, www.tonga-now.to/ .

5 Kingdom of Tonga, Tonga Defence Services Act 1992, Part V – Enlistment and Terms of service in the Regular Force, Enlistment, Section 25(2) and 25(3).

6 Kingdom of Tonga, Act of Constitution of Tonga, 1988 Revised Edition, Articles 22 and 64.

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