MALAWI

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 (2) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts (hereinafter referred to as 'the Protocol'), the Republic of Malawi declares that:

1. the Minimum age for recruitment for employment in the Defence Force of Malawi is eighteen (18) years. By Virtue of Section 19 (2) of the Defence Force Act of the Laws of Malawi (Number 11 of 2004), which applies Article 3 of the Protocol, a recruiting officer is prohibited from enlisting a person under the age of eighteen (18) years, or over the age of 24 years, into the Defence Force of Malawi;

2. the Protocol is applied by the Republic of Malawi in all areas where an officer of the Defence Force of Malawi is employed and is working;

3. recruitment into the Defence Force of Malawi is genuinely voluntary;

4. recruitment into the Defence Force of Malawi is carried out with the informed consent of each person's parents or legal guardians;

5. all persons interested to join the Defence Force of Malawi are fully informed of the duties involved in such military service; and

6. all persons interested to join the Defence Force of Malawi provide reliable proof of age prior to acceptance into national military service."