HIGHLIGHTS
The effects of the war, continue to impact children and adolescents in Colombia
Wounaan indigenous community at risk of cultural and physical extinction due to the armed conflict
Colombia participates in global review of IASC Gender Handbook
Citizen participation in the peace process
Children and adolescents, seeds of hope for peace
This article is contributed by COALICO.
Peace is built with children and adolescents!
The “Red Hand Day” was commemorated on 12 February to remember the date in 2002 when the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict entered into force. This protocol obliges States to prevent the recruitment of children and adolescents in armed conflict and to attend those who continue to be victims of this type of violation of their rights.
According to the monitoring of the NGO coalition “Coalición contra la vinculación de niños, niñas y jóvenes al conflicto armado en Colombia (COALICO)”, the effects of the war continue to impact the lives of many children and adolescents in the country. In 2015, COALICO registered at least 1,690 armed conflict events, of which 403 directly impacted children and adolescents. Among these incidents, there were 135 forced displacement events, 121 related to the use and recruitment of children by armed groups, 38 violations against their right to life, 25 sexual violence events, 46 violations against children´s personal freedom, 22 attacks on civilian properties, schools and hospitals, and 16 restrictions to access to communities and confinement events. These events were concentrated in Antioquia (16%), Chocó (10%), Valle del Cauca (9%), Cauca (8%) and Caquetá (7,65%). COALICO also registered 40 civic-military actions and integration activities carried on by the Armed Forces that involved children in 15 departments in the country.
Along with the commemoration of the “Red Hand Day”, COALICO, together with other organizations and entities in Bogotá, held the conference, “Children and adolescents, protagonists in building peace”, acknowledging the role of children and adolescents in the construction of peace in Colombia. The event included the participation of 80 children, adolescents and youths between 4 and 19 years coming from different regions, who shared their proposals with State representatives, such as Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, Defensoría del Pueblo, the Secretaría Técnica de la Comisión Intersectorial de Prevención del Reclutamiento, Procuraduría General de la Nación, among others; and with international organizations such as UNICEF. The voices of children and adolescents shared that living in peace is: “Eating your soup and eating pastries” (a 4 year old girl); “Nights and days without feeling fear. Caring for and loving animals” (participants from 6 to 12 years); and “Educational reform that promotes social skills and not competition” (participants from 13 to 19). At the end of the event, a pact was signed to capture the conclusions of the participating children and adolescents, their opinions, interests, contributions and what they hope from peacebuilding. COALICO committed to following up on this pact.