Child soldiers in Colombia: Five views

Abstract

This paper offers explanations of the meanings that push children to illegally armed groups in Colombia from the testimony of 21 demobilized young girls from the region of Antioquia (Colombia). The girls’ answers are placed on a typology of explanations drawn from academic reports, and compared to three samples of attributions of students, teachers and policemen of their same region. The visions “idealizing” and “criminalizing” mobilization are practically marginal in all samples. The dominant vision among the girls is called “self-assertive”. From the rest of the samples, as well as for the experts, the majority of the views are “victimizing”.

Systematic Review of Mental Health Problems and Violent Extremism

“…-17.6% and 71.4% who experienced physical abuse (Dhumad et al, 2020;Oppetit et al, 2019;Simi et al, 2016;Bazex et al,2017;Baron, 1997;Jasko et al, 2017), -23% and 28.5% sexual abuse (Oppetit et al, 2019;Simi et al, 2016;Baron, 1997), -16.35% and 85.3% neglect or psychological abuse (Oppetit et al, 2019;Dhumad et al, 2020;Simi et al, 2016;Bazex et al,2017), -36% and 82% parental abandonment (Simi et al, 2016;Oppetit et al, 2019), -18.6% and 64% domestic or neighbourhood violence (Oppetit et al, 2019;Simi et al, 2016;Bazex et al,2017;Carmona Parra, 2012) Baron (1997) argues such instances of abuse lead to distrust of authority figures, increased time on the streets with (delinquent) peers, increases the likelihood of violence being accepted as a method of dispute management, decreases empathy and makes the victimization of others more likely. Kleinmann (2012) adds negative self-esteem and identity issues as further knock-on effects of experienced trauma amongst violent extremists.…”

Systematic review of mental health problems and violent extremism

“…-17.6% and 71.4% who experienced physical abuse (Dhumad et al, 2020;Oppetit et al, 2019;Simi et al, 2016;Bazex et al,2017;Baron, 1997;Jasko et al, 2017), -23% and 28.5% sexual abuse (Oppetit et al, 2019;Simi et al, 2016;Baron, 1997), -16.35% and 85.3% neglect or psychological abuse (Oppetit et al, 2019;Dhumad et al, 2020;Simi et al, 2016;Bazex et al,2017), -36% and 82% parental abandonment (Simi et al, 2016;Oppetit et al, 2019), -18.6% and 64% domestic or neighbourhood violence (Oppetit et al, 2019;Simi et al, 2016;Bazex et al,2017;Carmona Parra, 2012) Baron (1997) argues such instances of abuse lead to distrust of authority figures, increased time on the streets with (delinquent) peers, increases the likelihood of violence being accepted as a method of dispute management, decreases empathy and makes the victimization of others more likely. Kleinmann (2012) adds negative self-esteem and identity issues as further knock-on effects of experienced trauma amongst violent extremists.…”

Perspectivas actuales sobre sociedad, conflicto y derechos humanos en Colombia

“…En diversos estudios e informes es usual encontrar narrativas y reportes en las que la vinculación de NNA a los grupos armados ilegales está asociada con la identificación con la vida militar, con las ideologías que promueven la confrontación armada, el reconocimiento social, la admiración por las armas y el uniforme, la búsqueda de oportunidades, además de factores relacionados con herencias simbólicas en las que diferentes miembros de la familia han pertenecido a los grupos armados (Carmona Parra, 2013;Carmona Parra et al, 2012;Defensoría del Pueblo, 2002;ICBF et al, 2014;Lugo, 2018;Springer, 2012). Todos estos factores psicológicos y sociales influyen para que se justifique la idea de que enrolarse en un grupo armado, siendo menor de edad, es una opción viable y natural (Lugo, 2018).…”