The Colombian Army has rescued 292 children recruited by armed groups this year
Colombian Army during the Rescue of Boys from the hands of the Paramilitary forces, Aug 2024 Photo: @COL_EJERCITO
August 28, 2024 Hour: 8:50 pm
A total of 292 minors, forcibly recruited by the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Gulf Clan guerrillas, have been rescued this year in Colombia by the army, military sources reported on Wednesday.
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The Chief of Staff for National Army Operations, Brigadier-General Leonardo Caro, said that the two illegal armed groups continue to forcibly recruit children and adolescents, which shows “a clear violation of their rights, denying them freedom, education, free development and family life”.
According to the senior military, troops deployed in the country “have succeeded in recovering 292 minors by 2024, who were handed over to the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF, responsible for children) and the authorities competent to restore their rights”.
An army statement detailed that the departments in which the greatest recovery of minors has been achieved are Antioquia, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Chocó.
Last year, according to figures from the Ombudsman’s office, 184 children were recruited in Colombia and the most frequent illegal armed groups that resorted to this practice were the dissident factions of the FARC (91.1%) and the guerrilla group of the ELN (7%).
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE
