COLOMBIA: 'FARC are recruiting indigenous children'

Summary: The Colombian guerrilla organisation FARC is allegedly recruiting indigenous children as young as 12 to transport anti-personnel mines, provision and material.

[4 June 2011] - The FARC are recruiting children as young as 12 from indigenous territories in the south west of Colombia, the Colombian army said Friday.

According to the press office of the Colombian army, three former indigenous guerrillas have testified that the recruitment of children has been taking place in the departments of Huila, Cauca and Valle del Cauca.

The FARC allegedly use their young recruits to transport anti-personnel mines, provision and material.

According to the army, the FARC is recruiting the youngsters to compensate the loss of men in combat with state forces.

The army called on indigenous leaders to file complaints in suspected cases of recruitments of minors.

Involving children in acts of war is considered a war crime according to the Geneva convention, but common practice among Colombia's illegal armed groups.

Further Information:

• COLOMBIA: Children's Rights in the UN Special Procedures' Reports (CRIN, March 2011)
• COLOMBIA: Children's Rights in UN Treaty Body Reports (CRIN, March 2011) 
• COLOMBIA: IACHR laments landmine death of indigenous child (14 February 2011) 
• CRIN's Forms of Violence: **Dangerous, harmful or hazardous work**
• The International Campaign to Ban Landmines
• More on children's rights in Colombia