The armed conflict between rebels and the military in Colombia also affects many young people, who are often drafted into military service against their will. ACOOC, a partner organisation of terre des hommes schweiz which campaigns against conscription and for the right to conscientious objection to military service, now receives important political support from the mayor of the Colombian capital Bogota, Gustavo Petro.
Alain Zoller, Domestic Team
Although the Colombian constitution stipulates that no one can be forced to act against his or her conscience, all men are required to perform military service. This leads to young people being recruited against their will. Only since 1999 has the army been prohibited by law from recruiting minors. Exceptions nevertheless make it possible to recruit children and young people for espionage purposes.
Against the recruitment of children and young people
ACOOC, Acciòn Colectiva de Objetoras y Objetores de Conciencia (Collective Action for Conscientious Objection in Colombia), has been working against war and violence in Colombia since 2000, with the aim of strengthening the rights of conscientious objectors and improving the state social and work programmes.
For those recruited young people who have successfully passed the difficult and psychologically stressful procedure of conscientious objection to military service, it is almost impossible to obtain a place at university or a job.
Important political support
Now our partner organisation ACOOC is receiving important political support on the way to abolishing compulsory military service and introducing the right to conscientious objection to military service in Colombia. Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, Secretary of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá, has stressed the need to abolish compulsory military service for young Colombians. He made this statement at the forum on conscientious objection and against illegal recruitment.
Jaramillo further explained that everything is being done by the Bogota City Government to ensure that the young men who do not want to carry a rifle can exercise their conscientious objection to military service.
The city government of Mayor Gustavo Petro does not want the war, does not accept it and will not hand over any of the city's sons to the warlike conflict," Jaramillo quotes the mayor.
Gustavo Petro is thus sending a clear signal against the Colombian government's policy of "democratic security", which relies on military presence and police offensives.
