With 58 votes in favor, the plenary session of the Senate of the Republic approved in the second debate a constitutional reform with which it is intended dismantle, gradually, compulsory military service in Colombia and leave it as an alternative.
The Senator Humberto de la Calle, author and rapporteur of the initiative, assured that this is a measure that will benefit thousands of young people who want to have options other than choosing weapons as a lifestyle.
Also read: Conservative Party set its “blue lines” on Petro’s tax reform
“What he seeks is to gradually reduce the mandatory nature of military servicedecrease until reaching a time when that obligation ceases, “he said.
“This is a project aimed at young Colombians who are looking for better options and that these young people are not subject to an obligation that is justified in countries where peace processes are not underway,” he added.
De la Calle assured that history has shown that it is the young people from the poorest strata of the country who have to go to the Armed Forces because they have no other life options.
“It is a progressive measure, but it is an invitation to the professionalization and improvement of the Military Forces. It is time to allow young Colombians to find a way to serve this country from angles that are not limited to armed angles. It is a purpose aimed at young people, but it has to do with a process of inequity in Colombian society, since compulsory military service in practice only covers young people from the poorest strata, ”he said.
Check here: Buying three million hectares of land in 4 years will be impossible: MinAgricultura
For From the Street, approving this legislative act would mean taking a step in the search for total peace in Colombia. “I have the idea that if all young people from any social stratum 60 years ago had been called up to do compulsory military service, the armed conflict decades ago would have disappeared,” he added.
As it is a constitutional reform, the initiative must be approved in eight debates in the Congress of the Republic.
