Given the confirmation of the death of seven minors in combat between the armed forces of the Republic and the criminal structure under the command of alias “Iván Mordisco”, the Attorney General’s Office expresses, first of all, its deepest condemnation of the atrocious crime of the recruitment and use of minors by criminal structures outside the law, a practice that constitutes one of the most serious violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law. The Attorney General, Gregorio Eljach, deeply regrets the loss of these innocent lives and sends a hug of solidarity to their families and all of Colombian society at this time.
Between the years 2024 and 2025 to date, the recruitment of girls, boys and adolescents continues to show a disproportionate increase that worries this control body and should activate the rejection of the entire society. In accordance with figures obtained by the Attorney General’s Office in the exercise of its preventive actions, even with the under-registration that is evident in these cases, in this period more than 740 minors have been recruited. In 2024, 578 victims were presented (351 boys, 227 girls). 277 of them were indigenous.
These boys, girls and adolescents were allegedly recruited by the structures called “Estado Mayor Central”, “Dissidents” and the “ELN”. The most affected departments have been Cauca, Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Putumayo, Huila, Nariño, Arauca and, precisely, Guaviare. For its part, the ICBF reports 370 minors recovered from these criminal structures between 2024 and 2025, aged between 13 and 17, of which 70% would be boys and 30% girls.
The Attorney General of the Nation rejects with absolute force that illegal armed groups continue to incorporate girls, boys and adolescents into their ranks, taking away their childhood, their freedom and, in many cases, their lives. No cause or ideology can justify the use of minors in war. This infamous crime, in addition to destroying the social fabric, leaves a mark of irreparable pain on the families and communities of the country. We Colombians do not tolerate criminals taking the lives of our children and grandchildren in this way, nor do we accept any excuse for this horrendous crime, which is not legally amnestiable nor are we socially willing to forgive.
In this context, the Attorney General also reminds the Nation’s Military Forces of their duty to permanently observe and perfect the operational protocols and procedures that guarantee full respect for International Humanitarian Law and the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. The Public Ministry recognizes the difficult work and sacrifices of the Military Forces in the defense of national security and urges them to continue their mission within the highest ethical and legal standards, in harmony with the protection of human life and the dignity of the victims. From this perspective, the Attorney General’s Office will fulfill its duty to calmly, impartially and rigorously investigate the events that occurred and impose, if appropriate, the corresponding disciplinary sanctions.
The Attorney General’s Office reaffirms its unwavering commitment to monitor, prevent and punish all forms of violation of the rights of children and adolescents, and to accompany State institutions in the consolidation of peace based on absolute respect for the right to life and humanitarian norms. Within this framework, it will accompany society, the national government and all institutions in the shared purpose of pursuing and subjecting to the rule of law drug trafficking, kidnapping, recruitment of minors, illegal mining, and other conduct that threatens the full exercise of the rights of Colombians, as well as threatens their peace of mind.