Child Soldiers in Colombia
Fecha
2004
Autores
Linnet, Áshildur
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ISSN de la revista
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Editor
Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Resumen
Esta investigación es el proyecto final de la Maestría en Educación en Derechos Humanos y
para la Paz de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. Se trata de la participación infantil en el
conflicto armado en Colombia debido a la duración del conflicto y su relativa prosperidad
económica en comparación con otros países con niños soldados, estos jóvenes combatientes
han estado, durante algún tiempo, ocultos al resto del mundo. La realidad es que las guerras
largas pierden la atención de los medios que recibieron al principio y que la ayuda humanitaria
solo se puede proporcionar si se pueden recaudar los fondos necesarios. La falta de atención
de los medios a lo largo del tiempo ha dificultado la recaudación de estos fondos. Además, las
imágenes de la enorme riqueza de los narcotraficantes colombianos no han contribuido a
generar simpatía internacional. Pero esto no libera a la comunidad internacional de sus
responsabilidades hacia la niñez colombiana. El conflicto ha durado desde mediados de la
década de 1940, la gente ha sucumbido a la explicación de que esta guerra no se puede
resolver y que no hay esperanza para Colombia. Este tipo de opinión es peligrosa y ningún
defensor de derechos humanos puede permitirse pensar así. Las guerras traen crisis
humanitarias y siempre se necesita ayuda del mundo exterior. El problema de los niños
soldados en Colombia es sólo uno de los problemas en una crisis humanitaria más grave. La
comunidad internacional tiende a estar demasiado ocupada con las estadísticas de la crisis. No
es un problema si hay 1.000 niños soldados pero 6-7.000 lo convierte en un problema. No
importa cuántos o pocos niños soldados hayan, la participación de los niños en la guerra y las
hostilidades siempre es un problema. Los niños tienen necesidades especiales y en tiempos de
guerra se convierten en uno de los grupos más vulnerables de la sociedad. En los países de
posguerra los niños necesitan atención especial y especialmente los niños que han estado
participando en el conflicto. A pesar de este hecho, en ningún acuerdo de paz hasta el día de
hoy se han reconocido estas necesidades especiales. El debate sobre el conflicto en el país, la
búsqueda de soluciones, el rasguño de los responsables y de quién tiene la culpa ha llevado a
un uso complicado de términos con respecto a la crisis humanitaria. En el capítulo teórico de
esta investigación se utiliza y define el término "niño soldado", pero cuando se trata del capítulo
sobre la situación de los niños soldado en Colombia, los capítulos 4, 5 y 6, se utiliza otro
término, "combatientes". Hecho como en Colombia la palabra "soldado" se usa solo para las
Fuerzas Armadas del Estado y no para miembros de grupos armados ilegales, como la guerrilla
y los paramilitares. Aquí tanto los términos "niño soldado" y "niño combatiente" se usan para el
mismo fenómeno, tal como se define en el capítulo 3.1. En este proyecto el término "niños,
niñas y adolescentes" se utiliza para personas menores de 18 años. En los Capítulos 4, 5 y 6
se hace una distinción entre grupos armados o grupos armados ilegales, por un lado, y
militares o fuerzas armadas por otro. La expresión "grupos armados o grupos armados ilegales
se refiere a actores distintos del Ejército del estado. En el primer capítulo se explica la
justificación de la investigación y sus objetivos, seguido de la explicación de la metodología
utilizada en el segundo capítulo. En el tercer capítulo se establece la base teórica de la
investigación. Se define el término "niño soldado" y se explican los derechos que pueden ser
utilizados para su protección, tanto los tratados internacionales suscritos y ratificados por
Colombia como la legislación nacional. El énfasis principal está en la Convención sobre los
Derechos del Niño. Otros temas del capítulo son por qué se recluta a los niños, los factores que
los hacen más vulnerables para el reclutamiento, qué puede impedir su reclutamiento, el trato a
los niños en los grupos armados, el impacto de su participación, la desmovilización y la
reintegración social. El cuarto capítulo trata brevemente de la historia de este largo conflicto y
cómo se formaron los actores aún presentes en la actualidad. Se explica la situación actual del
país en cuanto a factores económicos, sociales y oportunidades educativas para la juventud
colombiana. El quinto capítulo trata sobre el uso de niños en el conflicto, sus vivencias, el trato
dentro de los diferentes grupos, la desmovilización y la prevención del reclutamiento. El sexto
capítulo explica la respuesta del Servicio Social y Familiar de Colombia y del Fondo de las
Naciones Unidas para la Infancia, al problema de los niños soldados o niños combatientes.
Seguido de conclusiones en el capítulo séptimo y recomendaciones en el capítulo final.
This research is the final project for the Masters program in Human Rights and Peace Education at the National University of Costa Rica. It is about child participation in the armed conflict in Colombia Due to the length of the conflict and its relative economic prosperity compared to other countries with child soldiers, these young combatants have been, for some time, hidden from the rest of the world. The reality is that long wars lose the media attention they received at the beginning and that humanitarian aid can only be provided if the necessary funds can be raised. The lack of media attention over time has made it more difficult to raise these funds Moreover, the images of the enormous wealth of the Colombian drug barons has not helped to raise international sympathy. But this does not release the international community from its responsibilities towards the Colombian children Their war is, as one of the people interviewed in this research called it, a blind deaf and dumb war that not many people are interested in." As the conflict has lasted from the mid 1940's people have succumbed to the explanation that this war cannot be resolved and that there is no hope for Colombia. This kind of opinion is dangerous and no human rights defender can allow himself to think this way. Wars bring humanitarian crisis and help is always needed from the outside world. The problem of the child soldiers in Colombia is only one of the problems in a grater humanitarian crisis in the country. The international community tends to become to occupied with the statistics of the crisis It is not a problem if there are 1.000 child soldiers but 6-7,000 makes it a problem No matter how many or how few child soldiers there are, child participation in war and hostilities is always a problem. Children have special needs and in times of war they become one of the most vulnerable groups in society. In post-war countries children need special attention and especially the children that have been participating in the conflict. In spite of this fact, in no peace agreements to this day have these special needs been recognised The debate about the conflict within the country the search for solutions, the scratch for those responsible and who is to blame has led to a complicated use of terms regarding the humanitarian crisis. In the theoretical chapter of this research the term "child soldier is used and defined, but when it comes to the chapter about the situation of child soldiers in Colombia, chapters 4, 5 and 6, another term,"combatants" is used This is done as in Colombia the word "soldier" is used only for the State Armed Forces and not for members of illegal armed groups, like the guerrillas and paramilitaries. Here both the terms "child soldier" and "child combatant" are used for the same phenomenon, as it is defined in chapter 3 1. In this project the term "children and adolescents" is used for persons under 18 years of age In Chapters 4, 5 and 6 a distinction is made between armed groups or illegal armed groups, on one hand, and military or armed forces on the other. The term "armed groups or illegal armed groups refer to actors other than the State's army. In the first chapter the justification of the research and its objectives are explained, followed by explanation of the methodology used in the second chapter. In the third chapter the theoretical base of the research is established The term "child soldier" is is defined and the rights that can be used for their protection, both international treaties signed and ratified by Colombia and national law are explained. The main emphasis is on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Other topics of the chapter are why children are recruited, the factors that make them more vulnerable for recruitment, what can prevent their recruitment, the treatment of children in armed groups, the impact of their participation, demobilization and social reintegration. The fourth chapter is briefly about the history of this long conflict and how the actors still present today were formed. The current situation in the country is explained concerning economical and social factors and educational opportunities for Colombia's youth. The fifth chapter is about the use of children in the conflict, their experiences, the treatment within different groups demobilization and prevention of recruitment. The sixth chapter explains the response of Colombia's Family and Social Service and United Nations Children Fund, to the problem of child soldiers or child combatants. Followed by conclusions in the seventh chapter and recommendations in the final chapter.
This research is the final project for the Masters program in Human Rights and Peace Education at the National University of Costa Rica. It is about child participation in the armed conflict in Colombia Due to the length of the conflict and its relative economic prosperity compared to other countries with child soldiers, these young combatants have been, for some time, hidden from the rest of the world. The reality is that long wars lose the media attention they received at the beginning and that humanitarian aid can only be provided if the necessary funds can be raised. The lack of media attention over time has made it more difficult to raise these funds Moreover, the images of the enormous wealth of the Colombian drug barons has not helped to raise international sympathy. But this does not release the international community from its responsibilities towards the Colombian children Their war is, as one of the people interviewed in this research called it, a blind deaf and dumb war that not many people are interested in." As the conflict has lasted from the mid 1940's people have succumbed to the explanation that this war cannot be resolved and that there is no hope for Colombia. This kind of opinion is dangerous and no human rights defender can allow himself to think this way. Wars bring humanitarian crisis and help is always needed from the outside world. The problem of the child soldiers in Colombia is only one of the problems in a grater humanitarian crisis in the country. The international community tends to become to occupied with the statistics of the crisis It is not a problem if there are 1.000 child soldiers but 6-7,000 makes it a problem No matter how many or how few child soldiers there are, child participation in war and hostilities is always a problem. Children have special needs and in times of war they become one of the most vulnerable groups in society. In post-war countries children need special attention and especially the children that have been participating in the conflict. In spite of this fact, in no peace agreements to this day have these special needs been recognised The debate about the conflict within the country the search for solutions, the scratch for those responsible and who is to blame has led to a complicated use of terms regarding the humanitarian crisis. In the theoretical chapter of this research the term "child soldier is used and defined, but when it comes to the chapter about the situation of child soldiers in Colombia, chapters 4, 5 and 6, another term,"combatants" is used This is done as in Colombia the word "soldier" is used only for the State Armed Forces and not for members of illegal armed groups, like the guerrillas and paramilitaries. Here both the terms "child soldier" and "child combatant" are used for the same phenomenon, as it is defined in chapter 3 1. In this project the term "children and adolescents" is used for persons under 18 years of age In Chapters 4, 5 and 6 a distinction is made between armed groups or illegal armed groups, on one hand, and military or armed forces on the other. The term "armed groups or illegal armed groups refer to actors other than the State's army. In the first chapter the justification of the research and its objectives are explained, followed by explanation of the methodology used in the second chapter. In the third chapter the theoretical base of the research is established The term "child soldier" is is defined and the rights that can be used for their protection, both international treaties signed and ratified by Colombia and national law are explained. The main emphasis is on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Other topics of the chapter are why children are recruited, the factors that make them more vulnerable for recruitment, what can prevent their recruitment, the treatment of children in armed groups, the impact of their participation, demobilization and social reintegration. The fourth chapter is briefly about the history of this long conflict and how the actors still present today were formed. The current situation in the country is explained concerning economical and social factors and educational opportunities for Colombia's youth. The fifth chapter is about the use of children in the conflict, their experiences, the treatment within different groups demobilization and prevention of recruitment. The sixth chapter explains the response of Colombia's Family and Social Service and United Nations Children Fund, to the problem of child soldiers or child combatants. Followed by conclusions in the seventh chapter and recommendations in the final chapter.
Descripción
Palabras clave
NIÑOS, COLOMBIA, DERECHOS HUMANOS, GUERRA, CHILDREN, HUMAN RIGHTS, WAR