Colombia is overpowered by criminals. Instead of being ruled by a government, the country is dictated by armed groups. These terrorists have committed more than 50,000 crimes, but the worst one is their regular recruitment of minors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colombia has multiple criminal groups that dominate and terrorize extensive territory. The largest and most violent groups are ELN, EMC, Second Marquetalia, the Gulf Clan, and the ACSN. They specialize in drug trafficking, illegal gold mining, extortion, and smuggling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On September 6, 2000, Colombia signed the OPAC law that prohibited armed groups’ recruitment of minors. However, 26 years after the law was created, at least 20,000 to 30,000 teens have been forced into criminal organizations. Marginalized or very poor communities living in the departments of Cauca, Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Meta, and Nari\u00f1o are typically pressured or threatened by the armed groups. These terrorist organizations exploit their deplorable situations by making irresistible promises of financial stability, protection, and escape from a violent home. In armed groups, children undergo physically and mentally hazardous situations, including drug trafficking, mass murder, and wars between the terrorist groups. Regardless of how agonizing their everyday work is, they can not leave the organizations, as any form of betrayal would lead to instant execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driving force behind teens’ increased participation in violence is the left-wing government of Gustavo Petro’s peace agreements with terrorist groups. The treaty consists of the government removing charges from dangerous criminals and limiting military presence in conflict-ridden areas. In exchange, criminals are expected to cease ambushes on security forces, infrastructure, and civilians. Moreover, they are required to disarm and eventually dismantle their illegal organizations. However, the peace agreement is executed poorly because of unclear guidelines for criminals and a lack of commitment from armed groups. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, \u201cIn Petro\u2019s first two years, armed groups have committed 11 percent<\/a> more human rights violations than in the first two years of his predecessor. 68 percent<\/a> of the provisions in the 2016 Peace Accord with the FARC remain unfulfilled.\u201d Making a peace agreement allows armed groups to expand while limiting military pressure that destabilizes their operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023, the right-wing opposition, Centro Democratico, organized a large-scale, peaceful protest against the Gustavo Petro administration. Millions of people filled the streets of Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and other cities. Their long-lasting demonstration was Colombia’s way of criticizing the government’s kindness toward criminal groups. Their protest widened the perspective of left-wing supporters and gained worldwide recognition of Colombia’s security crisis. Although demonstrations are successful ways to protest against the government, social leaders who participate in them are targeted and regularly killed by criminal groups. For example, Miguel Uribe was a right-wing presidential candidate of the Centro Democr\u00e1tico Party. In one of his camping rallies, he was speaking against Petros’ government and peace agreement, when a 15-year-old boy who was suspected of participating in a criminal group shot him multiple times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, the only way to make a lasting impact in Colombia is to vote for a center or right-wing candidate, such as Abelardo de la Espriella or Paloma Valencia, who will implement an all-out war strategy to end criminal activity. This strategy strengthens military presence and focuses on the persecution and incarceration of members of armed groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, throughout the years, criminal groups have gained enough power to manipulate elections and pressure individuals into voting for the candidate they support. For example, violence of armed groups normally escalates during electoral periods, proving that they threatened individuals to vote for their candidate through cruel and extreme tactics. Additionally, in poor communities with limited state presence, armed groups can dominate areas and control the population by restricting the movement and livelihood of residents through armed curfews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Civil society organizations should collaborate with local authorities and community radio networks to enhance existing voter education and risk-prevention programs in high-risk departments. These programs should disseminate simple voter guidelines for identifying and responding to vote buying, intimidation, movement restrictions, and misleading election information. There should also be a greater awareness of existing reporting channels, such as the Ministry of Interior\u2019s Immediate Reaction Unit for Electoral Transparency (URIEL) and the MOE\u2019s \u201cPilas con el Voto\u201d platform, so that incidents can be reported and investigated promptly. They should also work with local leaders, community radio networks, and civil society organizations to strengthen existing voter education and risk-prevention programs in high-risk departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Children can\u2019t vote for their own safety, but you can prevent the criminal groups from robbing their childhood and replacing their toys with guns. Think through every box you cross when voting and remember that armed groups are not the only ones who are capable of killing\u2014a pen can also be an extremely destructive weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citations<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n UNICEF. \u201cChildren Recruited by Armed Forces or Armed Groups.\u201d UNICEF, UNICEF, 3 Sept. 2020, www.unicef.org\/protection\/children-recruited-by-armed-forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200c\u201cChild Recruitment and Use by Armed Groups in Colombia Quadruples over Five Years.\u201d Unicef.org, 2026, www.unicef.org\/press-releases\/child-recruitment-and-use-armed-groups-in-colombia-quadruples-over-five-years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200cJustice for Colombia. \u201cColombian Armed Conflict.\u201d Justice for Colombia, 2022, justiceforcolombia.org\/about-colombia\/colombian-armed-conflict\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200c\u201cWorld Report 2025: Rights Trends in Colombia.\u201d Human Rights Watch, 19 Dec. 2024, www.hrw.org\/world-report\/2025\/country-chapters\/colombia?utm_source=chatgpt.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200cAFP. \u201cJornada de Manifestaciones En Colombia En Contra Del Gobierno de Gustavo Petro.\u201d France 24, FRANCE 24, 15 Feb. 2023, www.france24.com\/es\/minuto-a-minuto\/20230215-miles-protestan-en-colombia-contra-reformas-del-presidente-gustavo-petro. Accessed 21 May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200cBarber, Harriet, and Tiago Rogero. \u201c\u201cTotal Peace\u201d or \u201cAll-out War\u201d? Colombian Voters Face Stark Choice as Rebel Attacks Surge.\u201d The Guardian, The Guardian, 29 Apr. 2026, www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/apr\/29\/colombia-election-total-peace-promise-violence?utm_source=chatgpt.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200cMiguel, Juan. \u201cLas Cr\u00edticas de Alcaldes Y La Fiscal a La Paz Total de Petro Suben La Presi\u00f3n Contra Iv\u00e1n Cepeda.\u201d El Pa\u00eds Am\u00e9rica Colombia, 8 Apr. 2026, elpais.com\/america-colombia\/2026-04-08\/las-criticas-de-alcaldes-y-la-fiscal-a-la-paz-total-de-petro-suben-la-presion-contra-ivan-cepeda.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 21 May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200c\u201cCivilians in Colombia Face Less Deadly \u2014 but More Pervasive \u2014 Violence during Petro\u2019s Presidency.\u201d ACLED, 23 Apr. 2026, acleddata.com\/report\/civilians-colombia-face-less-deadly-more-pervasive-violence-during-petros-presidency?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 21 May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200c\u201c\u201cTotal Peace\u201d Is Dead. For Petro, Partial Peace Is the Best Remaining Option | Council on Foreign Relations.\u201d Cfr.org, 24 Sept. 2024, www.cfr.org\/articles\/total-peace-dead-petro-partial-peace-best-remaining-option.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Colombia is overpowered by criminals. Instead of being ruled by a government, the country is dictated by armed groups. 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