The International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia

Day: 13 May 2025

Parliamentary question on child and adolescent recruitment in Colombia

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Colombia is experiencing several armed conflicts, one of the recurrent crimes is the recruitment of children and adolescents by armed groups. The social movement calls on all actors to respect IHL and in particular children and adolescents who are the future of the country. This is why MEP Leila Chaibi’s question is very necessary. It is important to question the European Union on this issue.

Here is the full text of the question presented by the MEP on 30 April, which can be found on the website of the European Parliament at this link. From the social organisations we will be waiting and monitoring the response of the European Commission.

Recruitment of children and adolescents by armed groups in Colombia

Representatives of the Nasa people recently reported the serious situation of children and adolescents being recruited in the north of Cauca, with 120 cases recorded in 2024. The Ombudsman’s Office of Colombia (institution defending human rights) has recorded 409 cases at national level, including 300 in Cauca; 51% of the victims were indigenous people and 39% were girls.

The UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict in Colombia highlighted a 58% increase in cases between 2021 and 2023 compared with the previous reporting period. Recruitment is often accompanied by physical, psychological and sexual violence.

  1. The EU supports the peace processes in Colombia, but what measures have been taken to end the recruitment of minors by armed groups, and what specific steps will the EU take to put pressure on armed groups, ensuring that they respect international humanitarian law?
  2. What initiatives have been put in place to protect children and adolescents and prevent them from being recruited in this way, especially those who come from the most vulnerable communities?
  3. Will the EU step up its support for local stakeholders involved in protecting the rights of children in areas affected by the conflict?

Parliamentary question on the situation of indigenous peoples in Colombia

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We would like to thank MEP Leila Chaibi for her commitment to the human rights of indigenous peoples in Colombia. The indigenous guard is a mechanism for the protection of communities against the siege of armed actors in their territories.

Here is the full text of the question presented by the MEP on 30 April, which can be found on the website of the European Parliament at this link. From the social organisations we will be waiting and monitoring the response of the European Commission.

Murder of indigenous guards and ancestral wise men in Colombia

Representatives of the Nasa people recently denounced the willingness of armed actors to destabilise their social fabric and to take control of their territories, even referring to acts of ethnocide. According to their reports, since the 2016 peace agreement, 43 indigenous guards and 16 ancestral wise men have been killed, and many others are currently in danger. The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples stresses that the spiritual authorities and indigenous guards are central institutions for the physical and cultural survival of these communities, and that they face intimidation, threats and killings.

The Indigenous Guard of Cauca – Kiwe Thegnas (Defenders of Life and Territory) is a community movement of peaceful resistance, made up of women, men and children defending their territories. It has been recognised by international organisations and received the Front Line Defenders Award in 2020.

  1. In this context, does the European Union support the protection of indigenous peoples and their ancestral authorities?
  2. What specific action is it taking to protect these communities and their defence structures?
  3. Does it intend to give public support to the Indigenous Guard as an autonomous mechanism for indigenous peoples to ensure their protection?

Our solidarity is universal.

We are deeply concerned about all victims of armed conflict, repression and violence around the world — from Sudan to Syria, including the persecution of the Rohingya and so many other crises that often receive less international attention than they deserve. Each of these situations calls for solidarity, remembrance, justice and action.

However, we have decided to specifically highlight the message ‘Stop Genocide in Palestine’ because what is happening in Palestine represents not only a human tragedy of enormous magnitude, but also a direct challenge to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and to the rules-based international system itself. The indifference and complicity of much of the international community in the face of the apartheid regime imposed by the Israeli government on the Palestinian people represent one of the greatest moral and political contradictions of our time.

The persistent violation of essential norms — such as the protection of the civilian population, the prohibition of collective punishment and respect for proportionality in the use of force — not only has devastating consequences for the Palestinian population, but also erodes the global mechanisms designed to limit the power of states and prevent abuses.

When these rules are repeatedly breached without any effective consequences, the framework that protects all populations in conflict situations, anywhere in the world, is weakened. Therefore, speaking out in this case does not mean ignoring other forms of suffering, but rather emphasising the urgency of defending an international order which, if it collapses, leaves everyone in a more vulnerable position.

Drawing attention to this situation is, therefore, an act consistent with the universal values we uphold: the protection of life, human dignity and respect for international law, without exception.

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