DJIBOUTI

CRC OPTIONAL PROTOCOL (ARMED CONFLICT)

RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS

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

Declaration:

With regard to Article 3 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the Government of the Republic of Djibouti declares that the minimum age for the voluntary recruitment of persons into its national armed forces and gendarmerie is eighteen years (see Article 1 of Decree No. 79-001/PR/DEF establishing the procedure for recruitment in the Republic of Djibouti in connection with commissions, enlistment and re-enlistment in the national armed forces).

In addition, the Government of the Republic of Djibouti sets forth below the safeguards it has adopted to ensure that recruitment is not forced or coerced:

(a) The procedure for recruitment into the national armed forces and gendarmerie is initiated with a recruitment campaign in the press and other media aimed at young people (young men and young women) (article 5 of Decree No. 79-001/PR/DEF establishing the procedure for recruitment in the Republic of Djibouti in connection with commissions, enlistment and re-enlistment in the national armed forces and gendarmerie);

(b) Applications include a birth certificate, a certificate of school attendance and/or apprenticeship certificate, as appropriate (articles 6, 7 and 8 of Decree No. 79-001/PR/DEF establishing the procedure for recruitment in the Republic of Djibouti in connection with commissions, enlistment and re-enlistment in the national armed forces and gendarmerie);

(c) Induction for the young recruits takes place in public, at a sports field or other similar venue (articles 6, 7 and 8 of Decree No. 79-001/PR/DEF establishing the procedure for recruitment in the Republic of Djibouti in connection with commissions, enlistment and re-enlistment in the national armed forces and gendarmerie);

(d) All the recruits undergo a thorough medical examination (article 6 of Decree No. 79-001/PR/DEF establishing the procedure for recruitment in the Republic of Djibouti in connection with commissions, enlistment and re-enlistment in the national armed forces and gendarmerie).