Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2012, 13:06 GMT

Title	Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Andorra
Publisher	Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Country	Andorra
Publication Date	2001
Cite as	Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Andorra, 2001, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/49880618c.html [accessed 28 May 2012]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Andorra

PRINCIPALITY FOR ANDORRA

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

Population:
– total: 75,000
– under-18s: 15,000
Government armed forces: nil
Compulsory recruitment age: not applicable
Voluntary recruitment age: not applicable
Voting age (government elections): 18
Child soldiers: none indicated
CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 7 September 2000; ratified on 30 April 2001 ; supports "straight-18" position
Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC

There are no indications of under-18s as the country has no armed forces. Andorra is the fourth country to ratify the CRC-OP-CAC and has stated its strong opposition to all forms of recruitment under the age of eighteen.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Article 38 of the 1993 Constitution under chapter VI ( Duties of Andorran nationals and of aliens) states: "The State may create by law types of community service to pursue tasks of general interest."⁵⁸ Andorra has no defence force other than a ceremonial unit and depends on neighbouring Spain and France for external defence. The national police, under effective civilian control, have sole responsibility for internal security.⁵⁹ The recruitment age for the Andorran police force is between 19 and 35 years of age.⁶⁰

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

Andorra signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 7 September 2000 and became the fourth country to ratify the instrument in April 2001. Andorra supports the "straight-18" position. In its binding declaration upon ratification, the government stated that the recruitment of children under the age of 18 should not be permitted under any circumstance.⁶¹

58 Information provided by fax by the Ministry of Foreign Relations from Andorra to CSC on 19/4/01.

59 US State Department Human Rights Report, 2000.

60 http://www.policia.ad/english/organi/units_groups.html.

61 Communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to CSC on 474/01; The same position was stated by Andorra when ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Topics: Child soldiers, Military service,

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