Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Myanmar military to halt the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The organization highlighted a steep rise in the exploitation of minors for military purposes since the junta seized power in the 2021 coup. This trend has intensified following the introduction of mandatory conscription in February 2024.
Shayna Bauchner, HRW Asia Researcher, commented on the issue, drawing attention to Myanmar military’s long history of employing children in various roles, including in combat. Bauchner called for cooperation with UN officials to release all child recruits, describing the current practice as appalling.
The United Nations report released by Secretary-General António Guterres on June 19 delineated 2,138 grave violations against children in armed conflict in Myanmar. It verified the recruitment of 482 child soldiers, along with the detention of 47 minors by the Myanmar military. Furthermore, the report cited the harming and killing of 1,261 children, as well as instances of sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
The Secretary-General urged the Myanmar government to adhere to a joint action plan established to prevent child soldier recruitment, a framework that the country agreed upon with the UN in 2012.
The worsening conflict following the 2021 military coup has deepened the crisis. The junta reactivated the 2010 People’s Military Service Law, encompassing mandatory military drafting. Since April 2024, the recruitment pace has accelerated with military defectors reporting a surge in underage conscription.
Rights organizations cite corrupt recruitment practices, including the falsification or disregard of children’s ages. Notably, HRW has highlighted the illegal recruitment of Rohingya men and boys, who are being coerced under threats or through deceptive citizenship promises.
Bauchner further called on international governments to leverage their influence to cease the use of child soldiers in Myanmar and advocated for donor engagement in local support and rehabilitation efforts for the affected children.
The full HRW report can be accessed here.