PREVENTION OF RECRUITMENT AND UTILIZATION OF CHILDREN BY ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS IN COLOMBIA MARIO GOMEZ JIMENEZ MAY, 2009

TOWARD A PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE PREVENTION OF RECRUITMENT AND UTILIZATION OF CHILDREN BY ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS IN COLOMBIA

Some numbers and the scope of the problem National Ombudsman: more than children Human Rigths Watch: more than children Maya-Nasa Foundation: more than children WHO IS RECRUITING? FARC, ELN guerrillas Remaining groups of former AUC (emerging criminal bands) children under 18 years had receive attention from the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) through its specialized program of attention to boys and girls victims of political violence

85% of the children enrolled in illegal armed groups does it “voluntary” Intersectorial Policy for the Prevention of recruitment and utilization of children It is mandatory to the State to promote prevention policies to avoid the violation of rights that lead into recruitment Causes: School desertion Domestic violence Low income/unemployment Few school spaces for recreation and games Absence of protector factors such as recreation, sports, art, music Approached from a Human Rights- based strategy

Colombian National government issued the Decree N° 4690/2007 in order to create the Intersectorial Commission for the Prevention of recruitment and utilization of child and young people by organized illegal groups, which is composed by:

The Commission Objective is to: To promote the accomplishment of the rights of the child, health, education, recreation, culture, sport and opportunities for the parents To promote comprehensive protection policies To promote more protective surroundings Purpose of the intersectorial policy To strength and revitalize social, public and private networks, capable to block the action of those who threat or violate human rights 7 strategies to develop this: Articulate, boost, vitalize y consolidate, encourage, strength, promote, mobilize

MODEL FOR THE PREVENTION OF RECRUITMENT OF CHILD AND YOUNG PEOPLE BY ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS A proposal based on the Restrepo Barco Foundation experience

Montes de María region

General Purpose: To design and put into operation strategies to strengthen Social Capital with the children and young people of 7 municipalities in Montes de María, based on the evaluation, transformation and accumulation of rural assets and the articulation of local public policies Geographical coverage: Bolívar: –San Juan Nepomuceno –San Jacinto –Carmen de Bolívar –Zambrano Sucre: –Ovejas –Toluviejo –San Onofre

RISK FACTORS PROTECTOR FACTORS Mistreatment of children Unemployment Few school spaces for recreation and games Low schooling level and lack of adequate school infrastructure Forced displacements by armed conflict Armed actors presence (FARC, ELN, emerging criminal bands) Participation in musical groups Sports Community organization and participation activities and social networks (solidarity among neighbors) Family integration Jobs and income generation by parents and carers Promotion of social programs by institutions (children's dining rooms, training programs and promotion of healthy habits). As seen in the municipalities of: San Juan Nepomuceno, San Jacinto, Carmen de Bolívar, Zambrano, Ovejas, Toluviejo, San Onofre

EXPLAINING THE SITUATION: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: 15% of boys and 25,2% of girls stated that violence and lack of affection within their families where determining facts to enroll armed groups. (National Ombudsman investigation on 2006) Salary offer by armed groups: 34.5% of children surveyed stated that they joined the armed groups for the promise of an economic offer. (Attention program to ex combatant children. ICBF)

ADITIONAL COMPONENTS SISTEMATIZACIONSISTEMATIZACION SEGUIMIENTO Y EVALUACION Mapas de Vulnerabilidades, riesgos y oportunidades. Fondo Multipropósitos

It is necessary to: –In the future, there should be more credibility from the community towards local authorities initiatives in the execution of programs aiming to extend coverage and quality on education and health services. –Base organizations should increase their participation in child protection programs. –The presence of international organisms holding programs associated with the pursuit of family and children welfare, should increase with the Peace Laboratories –It is necessary to motivate and support families and their children in the accomplishment of their rights.

It is necessary to: –Existence of base organizations with clear impact in the development of social capital –Culture –Sports –Inclusion of child and youth oriented-policies in the local development plan –Recover cultural traditions as a teaching element in educational processes. –Solidarity among community

It is necessary to: Fix a public policy to guarantee resources to the 50 focused municipalities The public approaching of this issue is late in time, since this problematic has been present in Colombia for several years, and the children recruited are utilized for tasks such as: Planting landmines Being objects of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation Taking care of hostages Participating in hostilities