Infancia en la mira: la ruta del reclutamiento infantil en Colombia
El testimonio de esta mujer muestra la maquinaria silenciosa que opera en parques, canchas y barrios vulnerables, donde menores son engañados, aislados de sus familias y sometidos a violencia física, psicológica y sexual.
TL;DR
- Child recruitment by illegal armed groups is rampant in southwestern Colombia, with minors as young as 12 being enlisted.
- Recruiters use deception, gifts, and promises to lure children, isolating them from families and subjecting them to physical, psychological, and sexual violence.
- Recruited children are trained to fight and are treated as disposable 'merchandise,' with severe consequences for desertion, including death.
- Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation by commanders and face strict prohibitions against pregnancy.
- Departments like Cauca, Valle, and Nariño are heavily affected due to economic conditions, state abandonment, and territorial disputes.
- The cycle of recruitment continues, with organizations like the Estado Mayor Central actively expanding their networks.