The State Department released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report this month, which includes a list of governments that have been identified as using or recruiting child soldiers, or supporting armed groups that do, as is required by the 2008 Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA). The CSPA aims to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers worldwide by restricting the provision of certain U.S. weapons and military assistance to countries whose governments or government-supported armed groups use or recruit child soldiers.
Who is on the 2022 List?
The 2022 CSPA list includes 12 countries. The total ranks as the third largest number since reporting began in 2010, but fewer than the 14 countries included in 2020 and the 15 included in 2021. Countries on the 2022 list are:
- Afghanistan
- Burma
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Iran
- Mali
- Russia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
New Additions to the 2022 CSPA List
Russia is a new entry on the 2022 CSPA list – the only country to be listed for the first time this year. Russian-led forces have reportedly used children in combat and support roles in Ukraine since 2014, according to this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report, and their full-scale invasion of the country in 2022 was followed by new uncorroborated media reports of Russian forces using children as human shields. Forces led or backed by the Russian government, including the Wagner Group, have also reportedly recruited and used child soldiers in Libya and the Central African Republic.
After a seven-year absence, the Central African Republic reappeared on the 2022 CSPA list, after having last appeared in 2014. The 2022 TIP Report revealed that escalating violence following the country’s December 2020 elections has resulted in a notable increase in child soldier recruitment and use, including by soldiers in the Central African Armed Forces who – in violation of command directives – forcibly recruited at least one child and used seven children in support roles in 2021. The report also notes that Central African Armed Forces continue to collaborate with and provide material support to the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group, which has forcibly recruited and used child soldiers in the Central African Republic.
Repeat Offenders
Several of the countries on the 2022 CSPA list have a long history of being implicated in child soldiers use. In particular, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Yemen have been listed each year since the list began in 2010.
Other countries included this year have also appeared on the CSPA list on a regular basis:
- Afghanistan (fourth year listed)
- Burma (twelfth year listed)
- Central African Republic (third year listed)
- Iran (fifth year listed)
- Mali (sixth year listed)
- South Sudan (eleventh year listed)
- Syria (tenth year listed)
- Venezuela (second year listed)
Notable Removals
Several countries that were included in last year’s CSPA list were not included this year. Of the 15 countries included in the 2021 list, five were removed:
- Iraq
- Libya
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Turkey
Security Assistance and Waivers
The CSPA bars the provision of certain U.S. security assistance or arms transfers to countries found to be implicated in child soldiers use or recruitment unless certain exceptions apply, or the president waives the prohibitions. Historically, presidents of both parties have made liberal use of their waiver authority, undercutting the efficacy of the CSPA, and potentially undermining child protections in these vulnerable countries. In past years, a total of 97% of the arms sales and military assistance that has come within the scope of the CSPA’s restrictions have been allowed to flow to CSPA-listed countries because of these waivers, amounting to more than $6.7 billion on otherwise prohibited arms and assistance. Waiver determinations for this year’s CSPA-listed countries are expected to be announced in September.
To follow developments related to the CSPA, check out Stimson’s CSPA Implementation Tracker.
The 2022 CSPA List at a Glance
By Elias Yousif • Ryan Fletcher
Conventional Arms
The State Department released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report this month, which includes a list of governments that have been identified as using or recruiting child soldiers, or supporting armed groups that do, as is required by the 2008 Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA). The CSPA aims to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers worldwide by restricting the provision of certain U.S. weapons and military assistance to countries whose governments or government-supported armed groups use or recruit child soldiers.
Who is on the 2022 List?
The 2022 CSPA list includes 12 countries. The total ranks as the third largest number since reporting began in 2010, but fewer than the 14 countries included in 2020 and the 15 included in 2021.1The reporting period for this year’s CSPA list covers April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Countries on the 2022 list are:
New Additions to the 2022 CSPA List
Russia is a new entry on the 2022 CSPA list – the only country to be listed for the first time this year. Russian-led forces have reportedly used children in combat and support roles in Ukraine since 2014, according to this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report, and their full-scale invasion of the country in 2022 was followed by new uncorroborated media reports of Russian forces using children as human shields. Forces led or backed by the Russian government, including the Wagner Group, have also reportedly recruited and used child soldiers in Libya and the Central African Republic.
After a seven-year absence, the Central African Republic reappeared on the 2022 CSPA list, after having last appeared in 2014. The 2022 TIP Report revealed that escalating violence following the country’s December 2020 elections has resulted in a notable increase in child soldier recruitment and use, including by soldiers in the Central African Armed Forces who – in violation of command directives – forcibly recruited at least one child and used seven children in support roles in 2021. The report also notes that Central African Armed Forces continue to collaborate with and provide material support to the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group, which has forcibly recruited and used child soldiers in the Central African Republic.
Repeat Offenders
Several of the countries on the 2022 CSPA list have a long history of being implicated in child soldiers use. In particular, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Yemen have been listed each year since the list began in 2010.
Other countries included this year have also appeared on the CSPA list on a regular basis:
Notable Removals
Several countries that were included in last year’s CSPA list were not included this year. Of the 15 countries included in the 2021 list, five were removed:
Security Assistance and Waivers
The CSPA bars the provision of certain U.S. security assistance or arms transfers to countries found to be implicated in child soldiers use or recruitment unless certain exceptions apply, or the president waives the prohibitions. Historically, presidents of both parties have made liberal use of their waiver authority, undercutting the efficacy of the CSPA, and potentially undermining child protections in these vulnerable countries. In past years, a total of 97% of the arms sales and military assistance that has come within the scope of the CSPA’s restrictions have been allowed to flow to CSPA-listed countries because of these waivers, amounting to more than $6.7 billion on otherwise prohibited arms and assistance. Waiver determinations for this year’s CSPA-listed countries are expected to be announced in September.
To follow developments related to the CSPA, check out Stimson’s CSPA Implementation Tracker.
Notes
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