Committee on the Rights of the Child
Sixty- fifth session
13–31 January 2014
Item 4 of the provisional agenda
Consideration of reports of States parties
List of issues in relation to the initial report of the Russian Federationsubmitted under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict
The State party is requested to submit in writing additional, updated information (15 pages maximum), if possible before1 November 2013.
The Committee may take up all aspects of children’s rights contained in the Optional Protocol during the dialogue with the State p arty.
1.Please indicate which Government department or body has primary responsibility for the coordination of activities aimed at the implementation of the Optional Protocol.
2.Please clarify whether boys are trained on the basics of military service prior to enrolment in the military register at the age of 17, and what such training involves.
3.Please provide information on the steps taken by the State party to ensure that children under the age of 18 are not voluntarily recruited into military service in the State party.
4.With regard to Suvorov military schools, Nakhimov naval schools, military music schools and naval cadet schools, please provide information on:
(a)The minimum age of admission to these schools;
(b)The proportions of academic and military training in the curricula;
(c)Whether pupils are subject to military discipline and punishment;
(d)Whether pupils attending military schools have access to an independent complaints and investigation mechanism;
(e)Whether pupils are classified as members of the armed forces; and
(f)Whether pupils can be called into active service in the event of an outbreak of hostilities.
5.With reference to paragraph 12 of the State party’s report concerning the enrolment of children below the age of 18 in higher military training colleges, please provide detailed information on:
(a)The minimum age of admission to such institutions;
(b)The number of students below the age of 18 enrolled;
(c)Whether students under 18 are subject to military discipline and punishment;
(d)Whether students can be called into active service in the event of an outbreak of hostilities.
6.Please clarify whether the complaints mechanisms referred to in paragraph 14 of the State party’s report have been used by children in higher military colleges and please provide information on the number and nature of complaints and investigations.
7. Please clarify whether the legislation of the State party fully criminalizes all the offences covered by the Optional Protocol, including the recruitment and use of children in hostilities by non-State armed groups.
8.Please clarify whether military courts have the jurisdiction to try juveniles. If so, please state whether the juvenile justice principles are upheld in military courts, and please provide the number of juveniles charged in military tribunals for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012, the nature of charges against them, and the outcomes.
9.Please provide information, if available, on the involvement of children in non-State armed groups based in the North Caucasus, and please indicate the number of children among civilians who were victims of armed conflicts in the region.
10.Please inform the Committee about the existence of any mechanisms for the early identification of child refugees, asylum seekers or migrants, who may have been recruited or used in hostilities. Kindly provide information on the steps taken to provide for their physical and psychological recovery and rehabilitation and to promote their reintegration into society.
11.Please indicate whether national legislation prohibits the trade and export of arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as military assistance to countries where children are involved in armed conflict.
12.Please inform the Committee whether the State party can establish and exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction over all offences under the Optional Protocol.