The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” keeps recruiting children | SOHR appeals for controlling actions in Autonomous Administration-held areas

SOHR activists have reported that “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” keeps its arrogance, disregarding the calls for stopping its actions which aren’t compliable with the international and humanitarian laws.

These activities include kidnapping children in Autonomous Administration-held areas to recruit them in the lines of the military forces in SDF-held areas, while taking advantage of the disputes among the family members, in addition to pressing the children’s parents to not demand their children back.

SOHR sources reported that “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” has detained a 16-year-old child known initially as “F.H.” for nine months. The child displaced with his family from Aleppo to al-Qamishly. However, his family couldn’t get him back.

The SOHR demands the political and military forces in the Autonomous Administration-held areas to control the activities of “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” for violating behaviour and human rights.

Recruiting children and putting them in armed clashes is considered violation of children’s rights, where the children are the most harmed categories in international and local conflicts.
First optional protocol of Geneva Convention of 1977, article 77 on second and third terms determined the age of children’s participation in hostile operations or recruitment in forces and fighting groups, which should exceed 15 years.

The optional protocol of the children’s right agreement of 2002 was adopted, in which the age of recruitment of children in armed forces and participation in war operations was raised to 18 years old, considering that the best interest of the children must be fulfilled in procedures concerning children.

Similarly, most countries’ laws don’t allow recruiting their children before reaching this age (18) as a minimum for recruitment.