The purpose of the meeting is to identify the commitments of the National Government entities to support and strengthen the prevention plans of local and departmental authorities on this issue, as well as those of ethnic communities and social process initiatives, under a children and adolescents’ rights approach.

According to figures from the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca, in 2022 there were 183 cases of forced recruitment involving minors by armed actors in the territory, while in 2023 another 204 cases were identified.

The Ombudsman’s Office has indicated that so far in 2024, 23 cases have been registered in the department, one of the hardest hit in the country by the armed conflict.

For its part, the Human Rights Observatory of the Presidential Council for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law conducted a study related to the risk of recruitment of children and adolescents for the 1,105 municipalities and 18 non-municipalized areas throughout the country.

From this analysis it is indicated that, in the department of Cauca, 19 municipalities are identified with a higher level in the index of prioritization of recruitment risk.

In the session to be held during this day, a wide participation of National Government entities is expected, as well as departmental and local officials and social organizations with the accompaniment of the international community.

The meeting of the Intersectoral Commission for the Prevention of Recruitment, Use and Utilization of Children and Adolescents, made up of 21 entities, will end tomorrow.

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