Last Updated: Tuesday, 14 February 2012, 16:24 GMT

Title	Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Costa Rica
Publisher	Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Country	Costa Rica
Publication Date	2001
Cite as	Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Costa Rica, 2001, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/498806051e.html [accessed 15 February 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 - Costa Rica

REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA

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

Population:
– total: 3,933,000
– under-18s: 1,532,000
Government armed forces:
– active: Nil
– paramilitary: 8,400
Compulsory recruitment age: 18
Voluntary recruitment age: 18
Voting age (government elections): 18
Child soldiers: none indicated
CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 7 September 2000; supports "straight-18" position
Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138

There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation

The armed forces were abolished by the 1949 Constitution. Article 12 states that "the army as a permanent institution is proscribed. For vigilance and the preservation of public order, there will be the necessary police forces." The Constitution further provides for the introduction of both armed forces and military service when deemed necessary. Indeed, "only through continental agreement or for the national defence may military forces be organised; in either case they shall always be subordinate to the civil power." Article 147 states that the Council of Government (President of the Republic and Ministers) "requests from the National Assembly a declaration of a state of national defence and authorisation to order military recruitment, organise the army and negotiate peace."

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

Costa Rica signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 7 September 2000 and supports a "straight-18" position.

Topics: Child soldiers, Military service,

Regions

Countries

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