Proposition 51K2989

Projet de loi modifiant la loi du 28 février 2007 fixant le statut des militaires du cadre actif des forces armées.

General information ¶

Authors

LE Brigitte Wiaux
MR Philippe Monfils
Open Vld Hilde Vautmans
PS | SP Talbia Belhouari
Vooruit Dalila Douifi, David Geerts

Submission date

March 14, 2007

Official page

Visit

Status

Adopted

Requirement

Simple

Subjects

armed forces children's rights

Voting ¶

Voted to adopt

CD&V Vooruit Ecolo LE PS | SP Open Vld N-VA MR VB

Contact form ¶

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Discussion ¶

April 12, 2007 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)

Full source

Mr Stef Goris, the rapporteur, is now absent and refers to his written report.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues are so interested that they ask me to give an explanation from the speaker. The essence of the bill, which I will explain in the next half hour, seems to be very technical at first. It probably does, but it also has a very important political added value. The summary of the printed document perfectly reflects the objective of the bill: namely to adhere to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, more specifically to the provision on child soldiers.

During the follow-up committee of February 2007 in Paris, it was unfortunately established that in large parts of the world children are still effectively deployed in armed conflicts. According to figures from the NV, 250,000 children would be deployed as soldiers. Often they are drugged and used as cannon meat in the front lines, and that year 2007. I hope that our country really takes an initiative in the Security Council to combat this phenomenon. During an action Red Hand Day for the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, it was repeated several times that there can be no forced recruitment of children.

This proposal is precisely intended to ensure that in our country young people attached to the military force, i.e. military aspirants, in times of crisis lose their status of military, without subsequently experiencing adverse consequences for their careers. The scope of application covers the aspirant-sub-officials, who follow the fifth and sixth years of secondary education, and the aspirant-officials, sub-officials and volunteers who are in order to comply with the compulsory education but have not yet reached the age of 18 years. The situation in which that category of military personnel loses the status of military during periods of crisis shall be announced by the Council of Ministers.

The text itself contains mainly technical provisions, which are intended to guarantee the acquired rights and the normal military career. CD&V’s colleagues submitted a similar amendment in the discussion of the mixed career concept. At that time, I said that I agreed with the analysis, but that the amendment could not be voted because it should not be detrimental to the career of the military concerned who may face periods of crisis. Therefore, I have requested the services of the DGHR to cooperate with this legislation. Despite the early hours, I would like to thank them for their cooperation.

The draft law has been unanimously approved in the Committee on Land Defense and I hope that will be repeated in the plenary session today. This will be a strong signal to the countries that still use child soldiers today.

Mr. Speaker, I would simply say that this is an excellent proposal, which is why I have counter-signed it.

They also voted in the committee.

I will vote here too.