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

Title	Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Malawi
Publisher	Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Country	Malawi
Publication Date	2001
Cite as	Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Malawi, 2001, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/498805e439.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 - Malawi

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

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

Population:
– total: 10,640,000
– under-18s: 5,738,000
Government armed forces:
– active: 5,000
– paramilitary: 1,000
Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
Voluntary recruitment age: 18
Voting age in 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 182

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

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

In time of public emergency, the National Service Act provides that every citizen between the ages of 18 and 60 may be called for national service. Recruitment into the armed forces is currently on a voluntary basis and the minimum age is 18.¹¹⁷⁶

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

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

1176 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.

Topics: Child soldiers, Military service,

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