Woodcraft Folk U.K.: Motion 5: Campaign Against Military Recruitment in Schools: article

This Annual General Meeting supports the DF movement’s campaign against military recruitment in schools. Woodcraft Folk calls for an end to the recruitment of children into the armed forces as it goes against our Aims and Principles as well as contravening the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

We call on the relevant Minister in the Ministry of Defence (currently Mark Francois MP) to change their recruitment practices in light of the UK’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which opposes the recruitment of children into the armed forces.

This Annual Gathering also recognises that the new Woodcraft Folk campaign “Our Times” on war and politics is a good opportunity for this issue to be discussed and campaigned on. We see this issue as a priority for young people and recommend that the campaign reflects this.

Proposed and seconded by: DF Committee

Supporting Information:
We are a progressive youth organisation that should advocate for young people, particularly the most vulnerable. The UK is the only country in Europe to recruit 16 year olds into its armed forces, and recent research found that the army visited 40% of London schools, disproportionately targeting schools in the most disadvantaged areas most often. The UN has condemned recruiting under 18s through its Committee on the Rights of the Child..

Source: http://woodcraft.org.uk