Law of 2013 on the status of the military in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Loi n° 13/005 du 15 janvier 2013 portant statut du militaire des Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo)

This law redefines the criteria for recruitment into the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), including the minimum age for joining the military. This law sets this age at 18 years (art. 27). The law was adopted one year after Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed a joint action plan with the United Nations to combat the recruitment and use of children and other grave violations against children. By signing this action plan, the Government of the DRC committed itself (art. 2 of the action plan) to ensuring that the national army, national security services, and armed groups cease to violate children’s rights in times of armed conflict. This law was adopted as a measure toward fulfilling that commitment.