The impact of the hostilities on children is one of the most disturbing facets of Colombia’s internal armed conflict. Whether as a result of their direct participation as recruits of the illegal armed groups, or simply by being there at the wrong moment, playing in the wrong field, walking the wrong footpath or being members of threatened or displaced families, children account for a vast proportion of the victims to the conflict. The figures speak for themselves. As Rafael Santos Calderón points out, at least 6,000 boys and girls have joined the ranks of insurgent or self-defense groups as combatants. They are used as spies, message-bearers or human shields, or are sent on risky missions. Girls are subjected to sexual abuse and discrimination. One child is killed or crippled for life every five days by anti-personnel landmines or explosives left behind. An estimated 1,900,000 persons were forcibly displaced in Colombia between 1985 and 1999. Of them, 1,100,000, or 58%, were children.

With the aim of gaining a deeper insight into the matter, and promoting the formulation of a public policy for children, the Convenio del Buen Trato, an organization made up by the Antonio Restrepo-Barco and Rafael Pombo Foundations, and El Tiempo Publishing House, organized two symposiums. The first one, The War’s Children, was convened with the help of the Women for Education Group, and took place in August 2000. The second one, Children and Internal Displacement, was organized in collaboration with the Rafael Pombo Foundation and Save the Children - Sweden, and was held in March 2001. The Observatory of the Presidential Program for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Office of the Vice President of Colombia collected the presentations and published a book, Niñez y Conflicto Armado en Colombia (Children and the Armed Conflict in Colombia), which is summarized in the following pages. By publishing the book, the Human Rights Program joins and encourages an initiative of civil society to search for solutions to one of the most complex and serious issues facing Colombia. As a matter of fact, protecting children from the armed conflict and dealing with its social, economic and psychological effects on them count among the highest priorities in the government’s policies on children and human rights. The book is part of a collection that reflects, and is a result of common efforts of the government and civil society.

In the preface, Rafael Santos Calderón, Chairman of the Convenio del Buen Trato, highlights the significance of the participation in these symposiums of the National Government, the NGOs, researchers, international bodies, and control agencies. “Only by sharing our experiences and knowledge will we be able to find solutions that allow us to overcome our difficulties”, he writes. In his view, “the future of Colombian society and its institutions, and the chance of a lasting peace, will largely depend on the actions we take today to effectively care for children affected by the armed conflict, particularly the implementation of consistent, effectual public policies for the full protection of children’s rights in the context of the armed conflict”.

As Vice President Gustavo Bell-Lemus remarks in the foreword, by encouraging initiatives such as these symposiums, “the government seeks to obtain a clearer picture of the present situation, and establish the basic facts in order to be able to formulate an effective public policy on children, armed conflict and forced displacement”. This is in line with President Andrés Pastrana’s peace, Human Rights and IHL policies. From the beginning, his administration has been committed to achieving peace through a negotiated settlement of the armed conflict, and significant progress has been made in the negotiations with the FARC. Talks have been initiated with the ELN, although these are temporarily suspended.
Armed, indiscriminate violence poses a formidable challenge to the peace process. Two factors are particularly aggravating, namely forced displacement of civilians and the activities of the illegal self-defense groups. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the government has adopted a Policy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, within the framework of the Universal System of Protection of Human Rights. Under this policy, responsibility for dealing with human rights issues lays with the Vice President’s Office.

The protection of children affected by the armed conflict is one of the government’s main preoccupations. However, as a survey conducted by the Rafael Pombo Foundation shows, there is widespread ignorance about what the authorities are doing in this regard. Although a lot remains to be done, mentioning a few achievements is quite appropriate here. Colombia has adopted the International Convention on the Rights of the Child -approved by Congress in 1991-, the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949, and the two Protocols additional to these Conventions. The Fourth Geneva Convention provides that children must enjoy especial protection, which is more explicitly regulated by the Additional Protocols, particularly in connection with the participation of minors in non-international armed conflicts. In compliance with these regulations, the government has set the minimum age for recruitment in the armed forces at eighteen, and most children under that age who were previously carrying out administrative tasks in low-risk areas have now been discharged. All armed groups taking part in the conflict do have the same obligation. With regard to children previously engaged in hostilities, the government has applied the existing legislation on the protection of children, and has also implemented programs for their rehabilitation and integration into society. Special programs have been introduced to provide support to children who have suffered sexual abuse and rape, which are described as infringements of international humanitarian law under the new Penal Code. In addition, the government has made the eradication of antipersonnel mines a priority. Furthermore, displaced children are the focus of special attention through the National Plan of Assistance to the Displaced Population of the Social Solidarity Network.

The government is aware of the serious psychological and social consequences of the armed conflict, particularly for children who take direct part are forcibly displaced, or are otherwise affected by the hostilities. Therefore, it is convinced that, despite the economic difficulties facing the country, the funding of programs aiming at the social, economic and psychological recovery of children affected by the armed conflict must take priority. Also, we must encourage a greater coordination of efforts between the State, the civil society and the international community, in order to address these problems more effectively. The government is persuaded that it is indeed possible to find a negotiated solution to the conflict. It is our duty to build a better country for today’s children, and for future generations.