The forced recruitment of children in Colombia presents a stark and brutal choice: death in combat or execution for attempting to escape. A recent report by the Defensoría del Pueblo (Ombudsman’s Office) reveals an alarming statistic: at least three minors are incorporated into the ranks of illegal armed groups every 48 hours.
This cruel reality was underscored by recent military actions. If these children remain in the armed groups, they face the risk of being killed in combat or, as seen recently, dying in aerial bombardments aimed at high-value targets. If they attempt to flee, the standing order among commanders is to recapture and execute them as punishment for desertion.
The issue of child recruitment has returned to the national spotlight following the government of President Gustavo Petro’s decision to reactivate bombardments in locations containing high-value military objectives, such as criminal commanders. This measure has drawn widespread rejection from human rights advocates.
Camilo González Posso, a former government peace negotiator, argued that in a country where armed groups rely on the presence of minors, these bombardments violate International Humanitarian Law (IHL). He stressed that children are victims of forced, deceptive recruitment and are fundamentally subordinate within these groups.
“Bombarding camps where recruited children are found is completely contrary to international humanitarian law,” González Posso explained. He insisted that the children’s right to life must take precedence over other considerations, such as the elimination of a so-called high-value target.
The recent targeting of a camp belonging to Iván Mordisco’s FARC dissident group, the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), resulted in the deaths of several minors. Forensic evidence from Medicina Legal confirmed fatalities, including a 16-year-old girl, a 13-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old indigenous youth, all of whom had been previously reported missing by their families as victims of forced recruitment.
The scale of the crisis is vast. Between January and October 2025, the Defensoría del Pueblo documented 162 cases of child recruitment, though the true figure is likely far higher due to sub-reporting fueled by families’ fear of retaliation.
The Estado Mayor Central (EMC), under the command of Iván Mordisco, has emerged as the most prolific offender, accounting for approximately 40% of all reported cases. Other FARC dissident groups and the ELN follow, accounting for about 14% of the reported incidents.
Indigenous communities remain acutely vulnerable, representing roughly 45% of the 162 documented cases. The highest incidence is concentrated in departments heavily impacted by armed groups, including Cauca (37 cases), Antioquia (20 cases), Chocó (16 cases), Huila, and Nariño.
The pattern of exploitation is evolving. According to Ombudsman official Iris Marín, girls are increasingly being forced into combat operations, moving beyond traditional roles in domestic labor and avoiding sexual violence. Boys continue to be used in both logistical tasks and direct armed confrontations.
González Posso highlighted the deceitful tactics used by recruiters, including luring children through social media, offering money, or promising status, only to keep them captive. “There are very painful stories,” he added. “We have many cases of children who have deserted and have been executed. There is an order from the leaders of these groups to kill the children who desert.”
