A police officer talks to children before the inauguration of a new police station in La Uribe, a former stronghold of the FARC, in southern Colombia. 2009. AP Photo/Fernando Vergara.
In recent weeks, the media, analysts and experts have been talking a lot about the challenges that lie ahead with the demobilisation of children from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP). The issue was brought up in a joint communiqué by the Negotiating Table on May, 15, in which an agreement on the exit of children under 15 from the guerilla camps was announced, together with a commitment for the drafting of a roadmap for the disengagement of the remaining child soldiers and the development of a comprehensive care program for them.
Even though multiple challenges must be overcome for this process to succeed, this is undoubtedly an opportunity that cannot be missed. The Technical Committee, established on May, 19, is responsible for the drafting of the protocol for the release from the camps of children under 15, for the transitional reception plan, and for the proposed assistance program should play a key role in ensuring that the guiding principles regarding the rights of children are truly respected.
