Washington to remove Iraq from list of child soldiers offenders: US Officials
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WASHINGTON, United States (Kurdistan24) – The US Secretary of State plans to remove Iraq from a list of the world’s worst offenders in the use of child soldiers, US officials said on Friday.
Three US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson planned to take Iraq off Washington’s list of the exploitation of children in war.
The decision “could prompt accusations the [Donald] Trump administration is prioritizing security and diplomatic interests ahead of human rights,” Reuters reported.
The move would also discontinue the State Department’s old procedure regarding the identification of countries which violated the rights of children, especially during war.
A country is taken off the list if the US government is confident “no children are recruited, conscripted or otherwise compelled to serve as child soldiers,” under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008.
Tillerson rejected assessments provided to him by his staff on the use of child soldiers in Iraq.
He also dismissed the recommendations of senior diplomats in Asia and the Middle East who wanted Iraq to remain on the list, the officials said.
“Foreign militaries on the list can face sanctions including a prohibition on receiving US military aid, training, and US-made weapons,” according to Reuters.
Tillerson’s decision may have been influenced by pressure from the Pentagon to avoid complications regarding assistance to the Iraqi army in its fight against the Islamic State (IS), one official mentioned.
A report from the State Department last year said some Iranian-backed Shia militias of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) “recruited and used child soldiers.”
Despite the group having ties with the Federal Government of Iraq, Baghdad is unable to control all of its factions.
“The government did not hold anyone accountable for child recruitment and use by the PMF and PMF-affiliated militias,” the State Department report highlighted.