REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

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

  • Population:
    – total: 1,989,000
    – under-18s: 411,000
  • Government armed forces:
    – active: 9,000
    – reserves: 61,000
    – paramilitary: 4,500
  • Compulsory recruitment age: 17
  • Voluntary recruitment age: 17
  • Voting age (government elections): 18
  • Child soldiers: indicated in government armed forces – six in 1999 (0.06% of the armed forces)
  • CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 8 September 2000
  • Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138
  • There are indications of under-18s in government armed forces as voluntary enlistment is possible from age 17.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Article 123 of the 1991 Constitution states that: "Defence of the state shall be an obligation for citizens to the extent and on the basis determined by law. Citizens who are not prepared to co-operate in military preparations on the basis of their religious, philosophical or humanitarian beliefs must be enabled to co-operate in the defence of the state in other ways".1728 All men aged 18 to 27 are liable for military service according to the 1995 Military Service Law. The male population performs military duty during peace and wartime; women may enlist voluntarily.1729 Postponement and exemptions may be granted on various grounds.

Draft duty is obligatory for all male citizens once they are 17 years of age and lasts until the call-up for conscription actually takes place. In this period a physical examination and psychological tests are made in order to determine the candidate's capabilities for military service. Conscription duty is performed in military units and institutions and lasts seven months. It can be shortened by up to 30 days by a decision of the President of the Republic. Reserve duty is obligatory for all men capable of military service after conscription and continues until the age of 50 (soldiers, NCOs) or 60 (officers). Trained and able women between the ages of 19 and 40 can voluntarily join a reserve.

Under the 1991 Law on Military Obligation, recruitment during the calendar year in the candidate reaches 17 was only possible through individual petitions.1730 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that in such cases the recruit must be at least 17 years of age.1731 Young men are usually called up to perform military service in the year they turn 19. A downsizing of the armed forces is currently underway and is to be completed by the year 2010.1732

Military Training and Military Schools

The training of soldiers lasts seven months with a possibility of a six month extension1733 A non-commissioned officer school established in 1992 has a minimum age of admission of 19 years.1734 A school for commissioned officers, a school for combat unit officers and a command and staff school were later created within the framework of this centre. During 1995, substantial changes were introduced in military training and the Military School Centre became the basic educational institution of the Slovene Army. In accordance with bilateral programmes and the individual partnership programme between NATO and the Republic of Slovenia, the members and units of the Slovene Army participate in various forms of training and exercises abroad.1735

Child Recruitment

Given that recruitment under 18 can only take place by individual petition, in 1999, there were 6 recruits below the age of 18 i.e. 0.06 per cent of the armed forces.1736

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

Slovenia signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 8 September 2000 and supports a "straight-18" policy, but it is not clear how it intends to reconcile this position with its national recruitment laws.

1728 http://www.urich.edu/jpjones/confinder/const.htm.

1729 http://www.mo-rs-si/mors/eng/tipicnasveng.htm.

1730 Initial report of Slovenia to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/8/Add.25, 30/5/95, para. 16.

1731 Letter from the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ljubljana, to CSC, 27/7/99.

1732 Ministry of Defence website: http://www.mo-rs.si/mors/eng/reorgan.htm.

1733 United States European Command: http://www.eucom.mil/programs/jctp/slovenia/se_info.htm.

1734 Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27/7/99 op. cit.

1735 http://www.mo-rs.si/mors/eng/tipicnasveng.htm.

1736 Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27/7/99, op. cit.

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