Reclutamiento de menores en Colombia aumentó 300 % desde 2022, advierte Coalico

The recruitment of minors in Colombia has increased by 300% since 2022, according to a warning from the Coalition Against the Recruitment of Children and Youth into the Armed Conflict in Colombia (Coalico). This report coincides with a statement from the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences revealing the deaths of 65 minors in bombings during the current administration. Hilda Molano, coordinator of Coalico, explained that United Nations monitoring records show a critical escalation in the country. “Recruitment has increased by almost 300% in these records, leading to calculations that there is one recruitment every 20 hours in the country,” Molano stated, highlighting the seriousness of this criminal activity. The specialist clarified that, under international standards, no recruitment of minors under 18 years of age into illegal groups can be considered voluntary. Armed groups use methods of persuasion or pressure, taking advantage of social vulnerability, school dropout rates, and weak family support systems. The organizations' analysis indicates that deaths in military operations geographically coincide with historical hotspots of forced recruitment. The areas with the most persistent and consistent record of these cases are the departments of Cauca, Guaviare, and Arauca. Molano explained that criminal groups have modified their mobility strategies within the territory. Internal migration of minors recruited in Cauca has been detected; these minors end up operating or losing their lives in distant regions like Guaviare. How do armed groups operate with minors? "The dynamics have changed. For example, sometimes they no longer have to take them from home, but the child is still part of the group. The child pays and operates with the group on the weekend, then returns home and goes back to school," he said. Faced with this shift in the conflict, Coalico warns of significant underreporting because illegal groups adapt more quickly than the institutional prevention measures implemented by the Colombian state. Now you can not only listen to radio, you can also see it! At Blu, we put a face to opinion, debate, humor, sports, and entertainment. We're putting a face to radio! Follow our live broadcast of our programming. Live news from Colombia and the world. Subscribe [FREE] to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/2CFF7Fo and find the latest news in Colombia, the world, and much more. BLU RADIO LIVE TODAY | #WePutAFaceToRadio Follow us on Google News: http://bit.ly/2lM3iLH Follow us on social media: Facebook:   / bluradiocolombia   Instagram: @BluRadio   / bluradio   Twitter: @BluRadioCo   / bluradioco   Today's latest news in Colombia: https://www.bluradio.com Our network of YouTube channels: Noticias Caracol Live: http://bit.ly/2Jhc3oO Subscribe Caracol Live: http://bit.ly/2CHpld2 Subscribe Gol Caracol: http://bit.ly/2yAIGcU Subscribe Shock: http://bit.ly/2CHNKzi Subscribe La Kalle Live: http://bit.ly/2JkgfEz Subscribe Caracol Play: http://bit.ly/2SkyjlM Subscribe El Espectador: http://bit.ly/2D4rkt7 Subscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow our programming, Blu Radio live: Blu Mornings with Néstor Morales LIVE Blu Mornings with Camila Zuluaga LIVE Blu Meridiano LIVE Sports Blog LIVE Voz Populi LIVE bluradio.com.co LIVE Blu Radio: 89.9 FM in Bogotá.