Human rights organisations urge UK MPs to end military recruitment of under-18s
June 23, 2021, 7:01 am

Human rights organisations urge UK MPs to end military recruitment of under-18s

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As British MPs debate the armed forces bill, a coalition of 20 human rights organisation urged ministers to stop the practice of recruiting children to Britain’s military. military

According to the Guardian, pressure to end the practice also comes as figures showed that girls aged under 18 in the armed forces made at least 16 formal complaints of sexual assault to military police in the last six years – equivalent to one for every 75 girls in the military.

Recruitment figures this month showed that one in every five new armed forces recruits were under 18. That accounts for one in four in the army, which recruits more soldiers at 16 than at any other age, particularly for infantry roles.

In a letter to the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, charities, NGOs and the children’s commissioners for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said : “The army argues that it provides underprivileged teenagers with a route out of unemployment, but since four-fifths of disadvantaged teenagers now continue in school or college from age 16, their enlistment typically brings their full-time education to an early end.

“Those who do enlist at 16 undergo the intense and prolonged stress of military training, which has drawn complaints of ill treatment from recruits and their parents. During this time nearly one in three underage recruits leaves the army or is dismissed. This means that every year several hundred young people, having left education early to join up, find themselves immediately out of a job and out of education.” military

According to the joint letter co-ordinated by the Child Rights International Network (CRIN) and signed by groups including Amnesty International UK and Human Rights Watch (HRW), Britain stands in stark contrast to most states worldwide which now only recruit adults to their armed forces.

What the UK needs is a small increase in adult recruitment to allow for a transition to all-adult armed forces, , according to the organisation, describing this as a “simple step” that would set the same standard in the UK that it has asked of armed forces and groups around the world, and help to bring a global ban on the military use of children into view.

The Guardian reported that Carol Monaghan, a Scottish National party MP who obtained the figures about complaints of sexual assault, said they were likely to under-represent the reality, as women in the armed forces were less likely to raise service complaints.

She added: “It is high time for the UK Government to follow Nato and European allies in raising the age of armed forces recruitment to 18. Whilst military service can be a fruitful and fulfilling career for many of our service personnel, encouraging 16- and 17-year-olds to enlist can have a detrimental effect on young people’s mental health outcomes, with many struggling to reintegrate into society.”

The armed forces bill 2021, which aims to implement measures such as enshrining the armed forces covenant in law, and to help service personnel and veterans access services, will be considered by MPs on Wednesday.

Among amendments being tabled is one from Labour which aims to ensure that certain serious offences, including child abuse, perpetuated within the armed forces would be dealt with in the civil justice system.

The Ministry of Defence said: “Junior entry offers a range of benefits to the individual, armed forces and society, providing highly valuable vocational training opportunities for those wishing to follow a service career.

“All sexual offences are unacceptable and not tolerated in the armed forces. We have robust, effective and independently verified safeguards in place to ensure that under-18s are cared for properly.” military

The MoD pointed out that no one under the age of 18 could join the armed forces without formal parental consent, and that this was checked twice during the application process.

It added that service personnel under the age of 18 were not deployed on hostile operations outside the UK or on any operations where they could be exposed to hostilities. Legally, rules allowed all new recruits, regardless of age, to discharge within their first three to six months of service. military

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Source: the Guardian

Image source: Getty Images-the Guardian

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.