FARC systematically recruits child soldiers: Study

[Bacchus4.0]

http://colombiareports.co/farc-systematically-recruits-child-soldiers-study/



Colombia’s main rebel group FARC has been accused of systematically recruiting minors in a study of 3000 demobilized child soldiers, reported newspaper El Espectador Monday.

The Unit for Justice and Peace, part of the Prosecutor General’s Office, released a 60-page report stating that of the 5075 child soldiers who demobilized from illegal organizations between 1992 and 2012, 59% belonged to the FARC.

Recruiting children under the age of 15 to “participate actively in hostile activities” is a war crime according to the International Criminal Court (ICC), while the United Nations sets 18 as the minimum recruitment age for participation in an armed conflict. The Prosecutor General’s study considers those younger than 18 as minors.


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A 2012 report authored by the dean of the law school at Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano in Bogota, Natalie Springer, describes several harrowing cases, one of which involves a pregnant girl who was kicked in the stomach until she miscarried, because “no-one could be pregnant.”


Last week Colombia’s Catholic Church joined several NGO’s in calling on the FARC to release more than 6000 child soldiers.

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1. Church, NGOs call on FARC to cease use of mines, child soldiers

Colombia’s Catholic Church and several non-governmental organisations have asked rebel group FARC to clarify the status of more than 25,000 missing, release more than 6,000 recruited children and suspend the planting of mines, local media reported on Sunday.

According to Radio Santa Fe, such requests were sent via letter to peace delegations of both the rebels and the government in Havana, preceding the fourteenth round of talks beginning Monday.

The letter stresses the church’s and NGO’s commitment to peace, whilst pleading that negotiations reach a swift outcome.

“[We hope] that the talks will lead to the completion of the internal armed conflict and enable us to continue with more strength and determination, building lasting and stable peace,” opened the letter.

http://colombiareports.co/ngos-call-farc-cease-use-mines-child-soldiers/