Principality of Andorra

Covers the period from April 2001 to March 2004.

Population: 69,000 (13,000 under 18)
Government armed forces: none
Compulsory recruitment age: not applicable
Voluntary recruitment age: not applicable
Voting age: 18
Optional Protocol: ratified 30 April 2001
Other treaties ratified (see glossary): CRC, ICC

The defence of Andorra is the responsibility of France and Spain. Andorra has no armed forces and no recruits.

Government

National recruitment legislation and practice

Under the constitution, "The state may create by law types of community service to pursue tasks of general interest" (Article 38).1 France and Spain have responsibility for external security and the national police force for internal security.2 Police recruits must be Andorran nationals aged between 19 and 35 who have completed secondary school education.3

Developments

International standards

In April 2001 Andorra became the fourth country to ratify the Optional Protocol. In its declaration upon ratification, the government reiterated "its disagreement with the content of article 2, in that that article permits the voluntary recruitment of children under the age of 18 years".4

1 Constitution, Article 38, Chapter VI, information from Council of Europe Legal Affairs department, http://www.coe.int.

2 Information on Andorran security in France and Spain entries, US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003, February 2004, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/c1470.htm.

3 Andorran police website, www.policia.ad/cat/ingre.html.

4 Declarations and reservations to Optional Protocol, http://www.ohchr.org.

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