español -
March 10, 2026 / NNOMY Steering Committee / The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY) - The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY) affirms its unequivocal opposition to the current war of the U.S. Trump Administration against the Republic of Iran. We hold that this conflict is illegal under international law and fails to meet the moral and ethical criteria established in just war theory, including just cause, legitimate authority, proportionality, and the exhaustion of non‑violent alternatives.
As an organization committed to protecting young people from the harms of militarism, we reject the notion that this war serves a lawful or justifiable purpose. Instead, it deepens cycles of violence, diverts essential resources from human needs, and exposes youth—both domestically and abroad—to preventable trauma and exploitation.
NNOMY calls for an immediate end to hostilities, renewed investment in diplomacy, and a national re-commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. We urge communities, educators, and policymakers to stand with us in resisting the normalization of war and the militarization of our society.
NNOMY Steering Committee:
With the USA and its allies involved in 2 major conflicts in recent years, military recruitment has become an important issue. But some parents and teachers have protested about military personnel visiting schools to talk to students about the armed forces. This often happened in the past anyway, but since 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act has meant that US schools which receive government money must allow the military in to talk to students. In the UK between a third and half of all new military recruits are under 18, with many joining after meeting serving personnel at their schools. This has led the British National Union of Teachers to pass a motion in 2008 condemning military recruitment in schools. One of the more common proposals is to ban military recruiting of those that are under 18 (the age at which individuals can join the military usually), which would severely limit the ability of recruiters to operate in high schools.