Marilynn Escún Yac (JD 2024) wrote a civil society report for Olivier de Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, who will visit Colombia from 26 August to 4 September 2024. The report was prepared in collaboration with the IHRC and the non-profit organization, Children Change Colombia. The report focuses on child use and recruitment by armed groups in Colombia, issues that come under the purview of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 4, 6, and 38). More than 17,000 cases of child recruitment by armed groups have been documented by Colombia since 1960. Although Colombia has established domestic laws and committees dedicated to investigating child recruitment, hundreds of children are still recruited by non-state armed groups every year. Unfortunately, Colombia has not gathered sufficient and reliable data on child recruitment, which means that resources to investigate, prevent, and sanction child recruitment cannot be allocated effectively and efficiently. Although Colombia and some armed groups have agreed to a ceasefire, the ceasefire agreement still allows for the recruitment of children over 15, which violates both international and national laws. Lastly, the lack of government resources for at-risk children has led to increased child recruitment since many non-state armed groups recruit children though the promise of money, power, and an escape from domestic violence. The report recommends ensuring more accurate data collection, prohibiting in ceasefire agreements the recruitment of all children by non-state armed groups, investigating and sanctioning the perpetrators of child recruitment, and providing at-risk children with resources and opportunities, including basic necessities.
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