These figures are released on the International Red Hand Day, which the Unit for the Victims will commemorate throughout the country through prevention workshops.

According to figures from the Unit for the Victims’ Observatory, the involvement of children and teenagers in armed groups decreased between 2018 and December 2021: it went from 176 to 83.

Between January 1^st, 2018, and December 31^st, 2021, there is a total of 519 events in the country related to children and teenagers’ involvement in armed groups. 2018 had the highest rates: it concentrated 34% of the total events that occurred (176), while there were 144 in 2019, 2020 had 116 and 2021 had 83.

These figures are released on February 12^th, when the International Red Hand Day is commemorated. This is the date when the Child Rights Convention Protocol was signed, which forbids the use of children and teenagers in armed conflicts.

The alert is for the entire Colombian society, aiming for children and teenagers’ rights to be respected, for a general call to be made in order to reject recruitment, and, in the same manner, to promote the non-repetition of the events. The red hand symbology refers to the need to stop minors forced recruitment in war.

Ramon Rodriguez, the Unit for Victims’ Director assured: "We carry out actions aimed at promoting the prevention of this crime, as well as to provide care, assistance, and reparation to those who have been victims of this victimizing act."

Registered cases

According to the Single Victims Registry (RUV in its Spanish acronym), there are 8,698 registered children and teenagers who are victims of involvement with armed groups. Through the Psychosocial Focus Group, the entity supports this population’ rights recognition through four strategies that are focused on guaranteeing non-repetition and emotional rehabilitation. This is CRE-SER, which to date has 7,751 participants; Salta la Cuerda with 4,498; Rotando la Vida with 3,269 and, finally, Proyectándonos, with 19,569. This last strategy addresses issues such as the teenagers’ rights not to be linked to illegal activities by armed groups, strengthening their awareness regarding their rights as special constitutional protection subjects.

The departments where most recruitment events happen are, in order of significance: Antioquia, Cauca, Meta, Caqueta and Nariño. From 2012 and until December 31^st, 2021, 579 transfers have been placed for Humanitarian Aid with an investment of $866,223,852 million COP, which is aimed at children and teenager victims who have been linked to illegal armed groups activities.

Within the framework of administrative and judicial compensation, 3,596 transfers have been made for a total of $62,157,883,071 COP, benefiting 3,421 people.

To commemorate the date, and in coordination with the Municipal Effective Participation Boards members, the Unit for the Victims will hold prevention workshops with symbolic actions in its 20 territorial directorates.

Similarly, on Saturday, February 12^th, at Bogota’s Maloka Interactive Museum, a series of workshops will be launched for children and teenagers’ recruitment prevention in alliance with the Historical Memory National Center. These spaces will be held during February for Public Schools students. The first group will be made up of 15 young victims from Bogota’s Usme District.

(Fin/AVA/COG/RAM)