§2442 Recruitment or Use of Child Soldiers

Summary

Anyone who knowingly recruits, signs up, or forces a child under 15 to serve in an armed group, or who uses a child under 15 to take part in fighting, can be fined, jailed for up to 20 years, or both. If the crime causes someone’s death, the person can be fined and sent to prison for any number of years or for life. U.S. courts can try the case if the offender is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, a stateless person who normally lives in the U.S., the offender is in the U.S., or the crime happens partly or wholly in the U.S. “Participate actively in hostilities”: taking part in fighting or military actions (including sabotage, acting as a decoy, courier, or at checkpoints) or doing direct combat support like moving supplies or providing other services. “Armed force or group”: any army, militia, or military organization, whether state-run or not, but not a group formed only for peaceful political activity.