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Colombia’s Child SoldiersAs Colombia finalizes a ceasefire with...
Reportage by Getty Images TumblrColombia’s Child Soldiers
As Colombia finalizes a ceasefire with the FARC and other rebel organizations, an estimated 6,000 young men and women are still enlisted in illegal armed groups. Approximately a quarter to a half of recruited combatants are women, including girls as young as nine.
Reportage contributor Juan Arredondo has spent the last two years documenting current and former child soldiers in Colombia. He found the girls to have received the same training as their male counterparts; they are taught to handle weapons, collect intelligence, and take part in military operations. However, they are also victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their commanders and often forced to have abortions if they become pregnant from these encounters.
The International Committee for the Red Cross and the Visa pour l’Image photo festival have awarded Juan the ICRC Humanitarian Visa d’Or Award for his dedication to this project. Visit the Visa pour l’Image website for more information.
