The General Command of the SDF issued an order that “categorically prohibited the recruitment of children under the age of 18 years in the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces,” the force announced in a statement on Saturday.
The SDF, led by the Kurdish YPG and YPJ forces, have received extensive training and support from the international coalition fighting ISIS in northern Syria.
Human Rights Watch has documented incidences of the recruitment of child soldiers as young as 13 by the Kurdish forces and others allied with them. The rights monitor noted with particular concern that recruitment was taking place among vulnerable populations in camps sheltering families displaced from their homes.
The SDF pledged to investigate the allegations raised by Human Rights Watch.
The SDF is a coalition of many individual fighting forces, predominantly from northern Syria and areas they liberated from ISIS. They include Kurds, Arabs, and Christians.
The new commands apply to all factions fighting under the SDF flag and order the referral of all fighters under the age of 18 to the authorities, namely the education body, and the suspension of their salaries.
The SDF said they will investigate all complaints or reports from families about child recruitment and will prosecute officers and commander who do not comply.
The SDF control more than a quarter of the country of Syria and have established local councils to administer these territories.
The political wing of the group has entered into preliminary talks with Damascus as the regime seeks to cement its control over the country after more than seven years of civil war.
