UN URGED TO PROBE ILL-TREATMENT OF YOUNG RECRUITS IN BRITISH FORCES

The Celtic League has written to the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict urging her to enquire into the circumstances surrounding the ill-treatment of young people in the British armed forces.

Following the 'Deepcut' inquiry into the deaths of a number of young people the Ministry of Defence claimed that new safeguards had been put in place. However, a BBC investigation earlier this year showed that ill-treatment of young recruits was still endemic.

See:

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The Celtic League opposes the recruitment of young people under the age of eighteen into the British armed forces and has raised the issue with authorities in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

«Radhika Coomaraswamy Under Secretary-General United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict United Nations S-3161 New York, NY 10017

30/12/08

Dear Ms Coomaraswamy,

I write to express our concern following a series of scandals involving abuse of recruits in the British armed forces, many of them under the age of eighteen.

The BBC revealed in a documentary broadcast three months ago that young recruits at Britain's biggest army base, Catterick, have been bullied during their training.

A number of training instructors have been suspended.

The new revelations came despite promised changes after four recruits (three of them eighteen or under) died after bullying at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey.

The Celtic League is concerned about the recruitment of young people under the age of eighteen into the British Armed Forces and have publicised our concerns.

We are mindful of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child after its last periodic report on the United Kingdom (see)

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We would urge you in your role as SRSG to enquire into the circumstances of young people of eighteen or under recruited into the British armed forces and ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in line with CRC/C/OPAC/CO/GBR/1.

Yours sincerely,

J B Moffatt»

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 30/12/08