Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC)

Article 2 of the Optional Protocol states:
“States Parties shall ensure that persons who have not attained the age of 18 years are not compulsorily recruited into their armed forces.”

Article 3 paragraph 1 states:
“States Parties shall raise the minimum age for the voluntary recruitment of persons into their national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, taking account of the principles contained in that article and recognizing that under the Convention persons under the age of 18 years are entitled to special protection.”