Britain's child soldiers: should the enlistment age be raised?

Veterans argue signing up offers young people a better life, but campaigners say it's unethical and exploitative

Young British soldiers
(Image credit: WPA Pool/Getty)

Campaigners are taking legal action over the terms of enlistment for minors in the British army, accusing the Ministry of Defence of "exploiting" young recruits.

Child Soldiers International (CSI) is calling for a judicial review over what it calls "unethical and unlawful age discrimination". Their lawyers argue that soldiers who enlist at 16 are forced to serve for longer under army rules.

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