15/01/2022 Colombia
“If you ever come across anything suspicious like this item, please do not pick it up, contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance”
While welcoming a decline in violations, Virginia Gamba, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) reminded that the reporting period – between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2021 – coincided with the “Children are still being used and abused by parties to conflict”, she Girls have been particularly affected by grave violations, accounting for one-third, of all 330 children impacted – greater than the CAAC agenda average, which stands at 23 per cent. The most prominent violation, which impacted 220 children, saw them recruited and abused by armed groups, including dissident FARC-EP fighters, which were the main perpetrators, as well as the militant group Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). Also concerning were the linkages between displacement and grave violations, especially child recruitment threats that forced families to move. The Special Representative called on all armed groups to immediately stop recruiting and using children and to release those in their ranks, so they may return to their communities and participate in reintegration programmes. She also reminded that boys and girls associated with armed groups and forces, should primarily be considered as victims.
Children under attack
The killing and maiming of 118 children were also verified during the reporting period, due mainly to gunshot wounds, anti-personnel landmines, unexploded ordnance, and aerial attacks. Ms. Gamba emphasized that Colombia remains one of the countries most affected by explosive remnants of war. She called on armed groups to stop the use of indiscriminate explosive devices and encouraged the Government to scale up demining and mine-risk education activities across the country. “Additionally, all parties should take all necessary measures to protect children during military operations and activities, in line with international humanitarian law, in particular the principle of precaution”, said the Special Representative added. “Armed confrontations in areas where civilians and children are present should be planned and executed with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions and to ensure the protection of non-combatants”. Other verified violations included rape and sexual violence, which are generally underreported for fear of stigma, retaliation, and lack of survivor services.
“En caso de encontrar cualquier tipo de artefactos explosivos no se debe bajo ningún concepto manipular ni tocar, debiendo avisar a las fuerzas y cuerpos de seguridad a la mayor brevedad para tomar las medidas de seguridad necesarias”.
Dear editors, Biography of a bomb is aimed at highlighting the danger caused by unexploded bombs. Moreover, the most important aspect is that we work completely non profit, raising awerness about this topic is what drives us. We apologize if we make use of pictures in yours articles, but we need them to put a context in how findings are done. We will (and we always do) cite source and author of the picture. We thank you for your comprehension.
