CRC/C/OPAC/SGP/CO/1
Below is a short summary of some of the key issues from the Committee on the Rights of the Child's 67th session concluding observations for Singapore's initial report on the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
You can find other documents related to the Committee's 67th session (including alternative reports submitted by NGOs and the Committee's concluding observations for other States reviewed in this session) on the Committee’s session page.
Voluntary recruitment: The Committee recommends that the State party consider refraining from voluntary recruitment under the age of 18, and that it take all necessary measures to significantly reduce the notification period underage volunteers have to follow in order to request release and ensure that no underage volunteer be subject to military law and to trial by the Subordinate Military Court.
Human rights and peace education: The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to include mandatory human rights and peace education in the school curricula, and to encourage a culture of peace and tolerance within schools.
Prohibition of recruitment: The Committee recommends that the State party explicitly include the prohibition of recruitment or use of children in conflict situations in the Children and Young Persons Act and harmonise the definition of the child in the national laws, in line with the Convention and extend the Children and Young Persons Act to cover all persons under the age of 18.
Torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: The Committee regretted the imposition of caning on members of the armed forces, including underage volunteers, for various offences under the Singapore Armed Forces Act and urged the State party to take prompt measures to amend legislation in order to unequivocally prohibit by law all forms of corporal punishment, including caning, in all settings.
Protecting the rights of child victims: the Committee urged the State party to put in place mechanisms to ensure the full protection of asylum-seeking and refugee children, particularly unaccompanied children, in line with international standards, and to identify at an early stage asylum-seeking, refugee or migrant children, who may have been involved in armed conflict abroad.
Arms export and military assistance: The Committee urged the State party to adopt and thoroughly implement legislation specifically prohibiting firearms exports, including small arms and light weapons, as well as providing any kind of military assistance to countries where children are known to be, or may potentially be, recruited or used in armed conflict and/or hostilities.