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Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Luxembourg

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Covers the period from April 2001 to March 2004.

Population: 447,000 (100,000 under 18)
Government armed forces: 900
Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
Voluntary recruitment age: 17
Voting age: 18
Optional Protocol: ratified 4 August 2004
Other treaties ratified (see glossary): CRC, GC AP I and II, ICC, ILO 138, ILO 182

The minimum age of recruitment was 17. Twenty three recruits under the age of 18 were serving in the army at the end of 2003.

Government

National recruitment legislation and practice

The constitution states that "All matters connected with the armed forces are regulated by law" (Article 96).¹ Since conscription was abolished in 1967, Luxembourg has maintained a small volunteer army.

The legal basis for recruitment is the Grand Ducal Regulation of 22 September 1967, which defines the status of voluntary soldiers, and the Law of 2 August 1997, which reorganized the army.² Recruitment for both men and women, who must be single, is between the ages of 17 and 25. There were 23 recruits aged 17 at the end of 2003. Soldiers under 18 are not permitted to take part in peacekeeping operations, under a law of 27 July 1992.³ A 2002 law allows European Union citizens to join the army provided they have lived in Luxembourg for 36 months.⁴

Military training and military schools

Military training is provided at the Royal Non-Commissioned Officers School and the Infantry School in Belgium. A minimum age is not specified but students are required to have completed at least four months of basic training, by which time they are 18. Officer training is provided at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium or the military schools of Coetquidan in France. The minimum age is 17, but all candidates are required to have a high school diploma and in practice are at least 19. All students receive weapons training.⁵

Developments

Luxembourg ratified the Optional Protocol in August 2004.⁶

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1 Constitution (chapter VII, Public Forces) (Coalition translation), at Luxembourg government website, http://www.etat.lu (Centre informatique de l'état).

2 Communication from Office of the Chief of Army Staff, 10 May 2004; Luxembourg army, http://www.armee.lu (Requirements for recruitment).

3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.mae.lu (Defence information).

4 US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003, February 2004, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/c1470.htm.

5 Communication from Office of the Chief of Army Staff, op. cit.

6 UN Treaty Collection, http://untreaty.un.org (subscription required).

Topics: Child soldiers, Military service,