Population: 848,000 (317,000 under 18)
Government Armed Forces: 3,500
Compulsary Recruitment Age: no conscription
Voluntary Recruitment Age: 18
Voting Age: 21
Optional Protocol: signed 16 September 2005
Other Treaties: CRC, ILO 138, ILO 182, ICC

There were no reports of under-18s in the armed forces. Over 2,500 Fijian soldiers were serving in the United Kingdom (UK) army, where the minimum voluntary recruitment age was 16. It was not known whether they included under-18s.1

Context:

The head of the armed forces, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, declared a state of emergency following a military coup on 5 December 2006. Military forces could benefit from an amnesty decree passed in January 2007 for human rights violations committed by their members between 5 December 2006 and 5 January 2007.2

Government:

National recruitment legislation and practice

There was no conscription. An individual had to be at least 18 to be recruited into the army. However, "the Commander may permit the enlistment of such number of persons of or above the age of sixteen years and under the age of eighteen years as he may from time to time determine".3 New recruits into the Fijian armed forces underwent a 12-week training course.4

There were over 2,500 Fijian soldiers serving in the UK armed forces.5

Military training and military schools

The Royal Fiji Military Forces Act stated that the "Minister may establish Cadet Units, the description of, numbers in, enrolment in, and organization of which shall be such as the Minister may from time to time prescribe". Cadet units, made up of boys between the ages of 12 and 18, did not form part of the armed forces but were affiliated to them and regarded as a "training unit for the Forces".6 Cadet training was in practice compulsory for all high school students, and children took part in drills and school parades.7

Developments:

International standards

Fiji signed the Optional Protocol on 16 September 2005.

1 "British Army plans to limit troop quota", Fiji Times Online, 3 April 2007, www.fijitimes.com.

2 Amnesty International (AI), "Fiji: Human rights protections must be upheld", AI Index: ASA 18/001/2007, News Service No: 033, 16 February 2007; Human Rights Watch (HRW), Letter to Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and President Ratu Josefa Iloilo of Fiji, 5 February 2007.

3 Royal Fiji Military Forces Act, Chapter 81, Part II(5)(3).

4 "Induction Service for new recruits", Mataivalu News, Issue No. 10, January – February 2006, www.rfmf.mil.fj.

5 UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Country Profiles, Fiji, www.fco.gov.uk.

6 Royal Fiji Military Forces Act, Chapter 81, Part III(18).

7 Australian Broadcast Corporation, Foreign Correspondent, "Fiji – Green Tribe", broadcast 11 January 2005, www.abc.net.au.

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