Survivors of conflict in this municipality of Urabá (Antioquia), accompanied by the Victims Unit, called for the continuity of reparative actions for the benefit of children and adolescents who have suffered forced recruitment by illegal groups.

In the Regional Center of Attention to Victims of Apartadó, an activity of reflection and solidarity was carried out on the occasion of the commemoration of the Day of the Red Hands, in which about 90 survivors of conflict participated actively.

This space also served to remember the commitments as a state in the protection and defense of rights of these children, as stated by Irma Barreto, one of the participants: “Mainly give them a lot of love, and reprimand them, which is very different to mistreat them”.

In the regions of Urabá and Darién, which have been heavily beaten by the armed conflict, minors have not been exempt from being victims of this scourge, registering 319 cases during the conflict.

In this scenario of reflection, the story of Libardo Bautista * from Arboletes was known. His daughter was recruited when she was 15 years old. “My daughter was taken in 2005, she was 15 years old, she was held for 10 months and from there she was sent to the house because she had left one of those who held her pregnant, thanks to the support of the mother and the family my grandson is already 11 years old, he is studying, I don't have him close, but I want the best for him and I am struggling to make it happen”, narrated, Libardo.

In this territory, the Victims Unit has carried out different activities such as reparation measures for the subjects of collective reparation, preventing and involving children and youth in the processes of which there has been an assertive response from young people.

More than 100 children and adolescents participated in preventive activities coordinated by the Unit within the framework of the guarantees of non-repetition and actions contemplated in the collective reparation plans in the subjects of La Chinita, El Bosque neighborhood, in Chigorodó, La Pineapple, in Nueva Colonia Turbo, through articulation with the “Mambrú Constructor de Paz” strategy, led by the Agency for Reincorporation and Standardization.

In La Chinita, young people strengthened communication skills, artistic as a strategy to empower youth clubs called "Los jovenes no somos una amenaza", with the participation of around 100 young people in events, training and activities with Camaleón Talento Urabá corporation.

Similarly, through educational fairs, these young people have been presented with the facility to access higher education with the support of the entities; Within these processes, the strengthening carried out through the Special Community Accompaniment Schemes highlights the educational processes in the rural area, through the delivery of Villa Nelly rural education endowment located in El Encanto neighborhood of El Silencio rural district Carepa municipality.

Elizabeth Granada Ríos, director of the territorial Urabá-Darién of the Victims Unit said that “measures and actions have been advanced from social pedagogy, sports facilities have been delivered in El Bosque collective, an intergenerational meeting was held between young people and adults, in order to promote open and deliberate exercises to promote coexistence, peaceful resolution of conflicts and reconciliation”.

Other actions aimed at preventing illegal recruitment have focused on the skills and artistic initiatives of these young people such as Pueblo Bello collective, in which these cultural and formative manifestations have been strengthened, through the delivery of musical instruments, artistic materials, technological endowments among others

(End/CYT/LMY)