The use of child soldiers

The conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers in the Middle East and North Africa is a unique chance for representatives to voice their opinions on the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Child that would set the minimum age for all forms of military recruitment and use in hostilities at 18 years of age without exception or reservation.

Although countries of our region are believed not to be as plagued as other areas of the world by the use of children in military conflict, numbers worldwide suggest that the phenomenon is substantial -- 300,000 children engaged in warfare.

However, we should not be complacent. As our region faces a new moment of uncertainty, we should be extra vigilant in securing guarantees that Arab children will not be compelled to serve in military combat in a time of war.

Jordan is signatory to the convention on the rights of Child and has signed the optional protocol, yet we remain, according to the Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers, one of dozens of countries that continue to recruit or conscript under-18s to the military. In our region, we are joined by Israel, Iraq and Iran in this practice.

-- The Jordan Times, Amman