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Recruiting child soldiers could earn a life sentence in Colombia if a bill proposed Monday by the Attorney General is approved, reported Caracol Radio. The announcement of the bill came on the same day as prosecutor Edgardo Maya announced he would bring cases of recruitment of child soldiers before international bodies if justice cannot be done within the country’s judicial system, said Caracol Radio in a separate report. Recruitment of children and adolescents is a war crime under both the Geneva Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that no child under the age of 15 shall take part in hostilities and that children exposed to armed conflict shall receive special protection, reports UNICEF. Recruitment of child soldiers is also considered a crime under the Colombian Criminal Code, UNICEF adds. In 2003, according to the UN Secretary General, 7,000 children in Colombia were in the ranks of armed groups, and an additional 7,000 were involved in urban militias. Of those, about 25 percent are girls, according to Human Rights Watch. Attorney General Mario Iguarán made the announcement during an appearance with ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, who is in the country for a three-day visit, reported Caracol Radio. On Tuesday, Freddy Rendón, known as ‘El Alemán’, became the second paramilitary boss to acknowledge that he had child soldiers under his command, reported Channel RCN. At least 350 children, from ages 14 to 17, served under the ex-chief in the “Elmer Cárdenas” paramilitary block of the AUC, an umbrella paramilitary group, said Rendón in testimony before the Justice and Peace Commission. Former paramilitary leader, Ramon Isaza, was the first to admit allowing child soldiers in their ranks, but he denied having any direct involvement, Caracol Radio reported. [Source: Colombia Reports] Further information
Association: Colombia Reports