SWEDEN

CRC OPTIONAL PROTOCOL (ARMED CONFLICT)

RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS

(Unless otherwise indicated, the reservations and declarations were made upon ratification, accession or succession)

Declaration:

"...in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 2 of the Optional Protocol, [...] the minimum age required for voluntary recruitment into the Swedish National Armed Forces is eighteen (18) years."

OBJECTIONS MADE TO OTHER STATES PARTIES RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS

(Unless otherwise indicated, the objections were made upon ratification, accession or succession)

(Ed. note: for the text targeted by the following objections, see the Reservations and Declarations of the State which is the subject of the objection)

5 October 2005

With regard to the reservation made by Oman upon accession:

"The Government of Sweden has examined the Oman reservation to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

The Government of Sweden notes that the Optional Protocol is made subject to the reservation formulated by the Government of Oman concerning the Convention of Rights of the Child. The reservation to the Convention contains a general reservation to all the provisions of the Convention that do not accord with Islamic law or the legislation in force in Oman. It also contains a general limitation of the application of the Convention, which stipulates that the provisions of the Convention should be applied within the limits imposed by the material resources available.

The Government of Sweden is of the view that the reservations which do not clearly specify the extent of Oman's derogation from the provisions in question raises serious doubts as to the commitment of Oman to the object and purpose of the Optional Protocol. The Government of Sweden wishes to recall that, according to customary international law as codified in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, a reservation that is incompatible with the object and purpose of a treaty shall not be permitted.

It is in the common interest of States that treaties to which they have chosen to become parties are respected as to their object and purpose, by all parties, and that States are prepared to undertake any legislative changes necessary to comply with their obligations under the treaties.

The Government of Sweden therefore objects to the aforesaid reservation made by the Government of Oman to the Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Rights of the Child in Armed Conflicts and considers the reservation null and void. This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Optional Protocol between Oman and Sweden. The Optional Protocol enters into force in its entirety between Oman and Sweden, without Oman benefiting from its reservation."