Pakistan among 14 countries on US’ child soldier recruiter list

The Joe Biden administration has added Pakistan along with 14 other countries in a list of Child Soldiers Prevention Act. This list identifies foreign governments that support armed groups who recruit or use child soldiers. According to PTI, this designation could result in restrictions on Pakistan on certain security assistance and commercial licensing of military equipment.

The US Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) requires publication in the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report a list of foreign governments that have recruited or used child soldiers during the previous year (April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021).

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Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen are on the list.

The countries on the list will face restrictions by the US government in the following fiscal year.

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The term “child soldier” means any person under 18 years of age who takes a direct part in hostilities or who has been compulsorily recruited into governmental armed forces, police, or other security forces. It also means any person under 15 years of age who has been voluntarily recruited into governmental armed forces, police, or other security forces or any person under 18 years of age who has been recruited or used in hostilities by armed forces distinct from the armed forces of a state.

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These restrictions will begin in October 1, 2021, and effective throughout fiscal year 2022 and these restrictions will apply to the listed countries, absent a presidential waiver, applicable exception, or reinstatement of assistance pursuant to the terms of the CSPA.