“You’ll Learn Not To Cry”: Child Combatants in Colombia

Summary: Based on interviews with 112 former child combatants, this book documents how both guerrillas and paramilitaries exploit the desperation of poor children in rural combat zones. Many join up for food or physical protection, to escape domestic violence, or because of promises of money. Some are coerced to join at gunpoint, or join out of fear. pdf: www.hrw.org/reports/2003/colombia0903/colombia0903.pdf