*MoD urged to raise armed forces enlistment age from 16??

??In an open letter signed by senior representatives of 20 organisations including Child Soldiers International, Children England, The Who Cares? Trust and Unicef UK, as well as the Children’s Commissioners of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, minister for armed forces Penny Mordaunt has been asked to end the enlistment of 16 and 17-year-olds by the British armed forces. ?

“In British society, the law safeguards children by proscribing choices that entail significant risks until they turn 18, the legal age of majority,” the letter stated. ??“It is therefore incongruous that the British armed forces still enlist personnel at age 16 and accept applications from age 15.”??

The letter warned “premature enlistment” can bring significant risk and disadvantage to young people with a third of underage recruits facing unemployment and mental health issues when leaving during their training.??

“Although minors are no longer routinely deployed, they are actively sought for frontline roles, particularly the infantry, where the risks in war are highest over the course of a military career. 

??“Since the mental health effects of childhood adversity can be aggravated in a military environment, the effects of enlisting too early can be particularly harmful for some young people.

??“In contrast, there is no evidence to suggest that enlisting at age 16 is advantageous when compared with enlisting from age 18.”

??The representatives said they recognise many young people may choose an career in the armed forces, but believe in view of risks and legal obligations, the choice to enlist should be fully informed and made at the age of 18. ??

They added the government could save an estimated £51m annually by just recruiting adults, which could be invested into specialist programmes that provide social, practical and academic support needed by the most disadvantaged young people.??

The letter comes as the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child begins its periodic examination of the UK’s record on child rights.

??A poll carried out by Ipsos Mori in 2014 found 77 per cent of people believe the recruitment age for the British armed forces should be 18 or above while 14 per cent thought it should be 16 or above. ?

?Rachel Taylor, programme manager at Child Soldiers International, said: “The MoD claims that targeting disadvantaged and often vulnerable young people for premature enlistment is in their best interests.

??“Children’s rights experts at the UN and across the UK are unanimous in stating that it is not. We urge the Minister to listen to and respect the expertise of these specialists.

“Enlisting minors is an outdated practice. There are better ways for the MoD to engage with young people interested in a military career, which better protect their welfare in both the short and long term.”