Colombia's Current Conflict
The civil wars in Colombia originated during the period before the Cold War when liberal and conservative groups began fighting in the late 1940’s in a conflict called La Violencia. This conflict ended in the late 1950’s but fueled the development of a militaristic liberal movement throughout Colombia. In 1964, the Colombian government sent forces to quell this growing insurgency. This date marks the beginning of the civil strife in the countries that continues to this day.
In 1964, a Communist guerrilla unit called Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) formally organized itself against the existing government controlled by conservatives. As the violence and warfare spread, more groups sprang up for and against the government. Currently, there are three major guerrilla groups that are against the Colombian government: FARC-EP, the largest, ELN, and EPL. [have mouse-over clues for these] As well as making the sounds of gunfire a daily occurrence for Colombia’s citizens, these groups have brought a widespread narcotics trade to the country in order to fund their wars.
Currently, an estimated 3600-5400 of FARC-EP’s army is under the age of 18, the legal age for military recruitment in Colombia. There number of actual youth in battle far exceeds this estimate. Young men who are born into poverty who have no hope otherwise look towards these insurgencies for a future. The majority of the child soldiers in these groups join voluntarily. Many become drug traffickers, while others become battle-ready warriors, and girls become prostitutes who entice information from rival groups.
According to UNICEF, seven children are killed every day in Colombia due to these ongoing wars.
Colombia's Use of Child Soldiers
Child soldiers are used in a number of ways in Colombia. Many are used for drug trafficking, surveillance, and general warfare. However, there are some instances of forces in Colombia treating children with actions beyond inhumane.
- In June 2002, a girl was punished for “sleeping around” by being executed by her friend.
- In April 2003, FARC-EP tricked a 10-year-old boy to ride a bicycle carrying explosives into a military checkpoint. People believe the bombs were detonated by remote.
- In August of the same year, a paramilitary group kidnapped and tortured three children in order to gain information about rival forces in the area.
