Afro-Colombians will remain exonerated from military service mandatory in Colombia, according to a ruling of the highest constitutional court that extended to the Afro peoples the benefit that the natives.
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In a statement, the Constitutional court announced its decision to exclude the communities “Black, Afro-descendant, Raizales and Palanqueras“of the obligation to enlist in the Army or the Police for a period of 12 to 18 months.
The court determined that it had been violated “the principle of equality“of the Afro by not including them in the groups exonerated from military service.
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The indigenous women already enjoyed this benefit that they seek protect their identity as an ethnic minority and the cultural diversity of the country.
Colombia, which still faces violence from various groups despite the 2016 peace agreement with the former FARC guerrilla, imposed military service on young high school graduates and those over 18 years of age, and left it voluntary for women.
The 1991 Constitution maintained the mandatory character for men, but included several exceptions, including the conscientious objection.
In addition to the indigenous and now the blacks, they are also exonerated orphans, parents and victims of the armed conflict, among others.
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The indigenous represent 4.4% of the 50 million Colombians and Afro, 9.3%, according to official statistics.
Both minorities suffer violence, poverty and inequality more severely, according to various social studies.
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AFP
