The Colombian Government published the decree regulating the ‘social service for peace’, a alternative to ‘conscription’, something that was established in Law 418 on Total Peace sanctioned in 2022 by President Gustavo Petro.
“The Government is ending the obligation of military service and is proposing to the youth an alternative of Social Service for Peace. This is a transformative measure, we are fulfilling our duty to the youth and building peace in the territories of our Colombia.“, said the pro-government senator María José Pizarro on the social network X on Wednesday.
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The decree states that the ‘social service for peace’ will allow young people to “actively contribute to the construction of a stable and lasting peace in the country through various modalities closely linked to the State’s peace policy and human security“.
This will apply to young people between 18 and 24 years old and implies, according to the document, that They will be able to dedicate themselves to any of the 11 modalities that the service offers.
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Among them are the focus on diversity; the recognition of the peace agreement that the Government and the former FARC guerrilla group signed in 2016; public tools for peace; promotion of culture and art; focus on human rights and international humanitarian law; call for reconciliation, and energy transition.
“Thousands of young people will be able to choose to work to build peace in the territories and cities, in exchange for not doing military service. Generations of young people will begin to put their talent and energy into ending violence and war in Colombia.“, he stressed Senator Ivan Cepeda, who is the Government’s peace negotiator in the talks with the ELN.
With Law 418 of 2022, President Petro has the authority to negotiate with guerrilla groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) or the dissidents of the FARC, as it is already doing.
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What the Government will not be able to do is pardon people convicted of committing crimes during the 2021 national strike demonstrations, which was in an article of the project, but was rejected by Congress.
EFE
