“Being Neutral is Our Biggest Crime” - Global Coalition to Protect ...

Maintain law and order in accordance with international human rights
standards
• Thoroughly revise the police training curriculum to include appropriate
training on human rights issues including lawful interrogation techniques and
best practices. All training should be consistent with international human
rights standards, such as the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement
Officials and other international human rights standards.
Prevent child recruitment in hostilities and assist in reintegration of children
recruited and used by all armed parties
• Take steps to ensure that all children under age 18 serving as special police
officers (SPOs) are identified, removed, and provided with alternative
education or vocational training opportunities.
• Amend the Indian Police Act, 1861, to introduce age 18 as the minimum age
for recruitment of SPOs to prevent future recruitment of children.
• Develop a national scheme for the identification, release, and reintegration of
children recruited by armed groups or police in consultation with
governmental, nongovernmental, and intergovernmental organizations, and
in accordance with the Paris Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated
with Armed Forces or Armed Groups.
• Develop and implement effective measures to ensure that all individuals
recruited for police duties are at least 18 years old; develop and impose
appropriate sanctions against individuals found to be recruiting or using
children under age 18, including those using underage former Naxalites as
police informers or SPOs.
• Implement the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, and provide proof
of birth to all children.
• Ratify the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (International Labor
Organization Convention No. 182), which defines the forced or compulsory
recruitment of children for use in armed conflict as one of the worst forms of
child labor.
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Human Rights Watch July 2008