The authorities of the municipality of Íquira, in the department of Huila, issued an alert for cases of forced recruitment of minors that have occurred in recent months, especially in areas that border the department of Cauca.
Mayor Jadnolver Correa pointed out that the illegal armed groups, such as dissident structurestake advantage of the needs of some populations to recruit especially young people who are between 15 and 16 years old.
“Young people, having no other life options, see a way to get ahead in a gun or in some illusion or promise. They get excited, make promises and leave, I think they are 15 or 16 year olds”, said the local president.
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He said that special attention has been given to the population center of Rionegro, the largest indigenous reserve in this department, where an early warning was issued for recruitment.
Given these warnings and the complaints presented to the authorities, both security and social measures have been adoptedwith the purpose of preventing minors from being victims of this scourge.
The mayor pointed out that during the year 2022 there have been sports and educational activitieswith a view to providing training opportunities to these communities.
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“We have been as an institution bringing offer. As there is forced recruitment, we have held championships, we also have a pre Icfes precisely to prepare these boys and give them the opportunity to go out to study and prepare. We have identified that they do not have a clear life project”, he added.
According to Correa, the geographical conditions of some areas and their proximity to Cauca hinder the operations of the Public Force to counteract the commission of this crime.
