Arab League studies draft law to protect children from military recruitment

The Arab League has commenced its sixth meeting of a joint committee in Cairo to continue studying a draft model law aimed at protecting children from recruitment in armed conflicts. The committee includes experts and representatives from Arab ministries of justice, interior, and other relevant authorities.

Maha Bakhit, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League and Director of the Legal Affairs Department, stated that the project aims to establish an integrated system for child protection. She emphasized that addressing this issue requires more than just criminalizing recruitment; it necessitates preventive, legislative, and institutional measures to protect children from various forms of exploitation related to armed conflicts.

The draft law seeks to harmonize national legislative systems with international obligations regarding children's rights and international humanitarian law. The current meeting focuses on finalizing the articles of the draft, with the results expected to be presented to the next session of the Arab Ministers of Justice Council later this month.