Link To Article: Armed groups target Colombia’s children as reform process slows
Farc Rebels and other armed groups have taken to recruiting children in impoverished areas to bolster their ranks. Since the start of the pandemic, recruitment rates have skyrocketed as a result of school closures and worsened living conditions. As a result of COVID-19 measures in Colombia, there have been at least 68 murders involving young children, and the murder of over 246 community leaders.
The people of Colombia have protested in the streets of Bogota, demanding government action to stop the armed groups. In the past month, over 10,000 protesters came to the capital from Cauca to seek a meeting with the president. So far the government has been unwilling to improve rural conditions and add stronger measures of protection.
Armed groups have recruited children, as well as killed youths and community leaders as a way to exert control over people. These groups will offer up to twice the minimum wage (for a total of around $400 a month) to incite families to willingly send their children into the ranks. Because these areas are extremely impoverished, and lack access to basic services, the risk of child recruitment is extremely high.
Over the summer, the government announced a new plan to address the child recruitment, and rural reform, but they could take up to 10 years to implement. Even if the plan works, it will be too late for many families. In this past year alone, over 20% of the youth in Corinto have been recruited into armed gangs, drastically hurting the community and peace protests. Even though some families have been able to flee the areas controlled by armed gangs, many others cannot. By the time any policy is enforced, the poorer communities of Colombia may be too far gone to save.