The violence and coercive recruitment of minors by illegally armed groups in Colombia has reached an astonishing level. Recent reports show that children who refuse to join these organizations face fatal retaliation, particularly children from the Christian community.
International organizations ranked Colombia at number 46 on the 2025 World Watch List of countries with the highest Christian persecution. According to the report, “Colombian guerrilla groups often target territorial Christians, particularly when they believe Christians are opposed to the “business” of related drug cartels.” The report further states, “Church leaders are particularly at risk as they try to influence the youth that guerrilla groups want to recruit.”
These groups monitor the church closely to ensure that the church does not interfere with the operation. Churches that condemn mandatory recruitment or provide support programs to at-risk youth are often targeted for violence.
For Christian girls, the danger is even greater. In addition to forced recruitment, they are at a higher risk of sexual violence. “These groups of men fall in love with the girls in the church and they chase after them because they believe they are purer or more insinful,” says Pastor Salomon.
In 2024, the Ombudsman’s office in Colombia registered 282 cases of forced recruitment of minors, highlighting serious violations of child rights in the country.
Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable, accounting for more than half of the victims of forced recruitment. A spokesman for the Ombudsman office said, “Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected, accounting for at least 50% of the casualties.”
One case exemplifying this crisis comes from a young Christian man whose father reported that an armed group attempted to lure his son. When he refused, he was killed. “They had already been declared to him. They warned the community not to talk to anyone, so we didn’t report it,” the father said in a statement gathered by Puertas Abiertas.
Another tragic incident shaking on December 24, 2024, when the Colombian Revolutionary Army (FARC) murdered a 15-year-old El Pratoedo boy after he refused to join the group. The incident highlighted the atrocities that these organizations imposing wills on the community.
Colombia’s illegal armed groups captivate young people with a deceptive promise of excitement, money and better living conditions. When minors participate, it becomes almost impossible to escape. Those who refuse to participate in activities such as armed training or forced labor are often forced to flee the community under the threat of death.
Even young children are taught in schools where teachers are associated with these groups. The recruited minors are absorbed by the paramilitary forces, while others form gangs that control society. This is the case of Buenaventura, where the Christian community is terrified, as reported by Diario Cristiano, the Spanish version of Christian Daily International.
In response to the crisis, Puertas Abiertas has committed to providing comprehensive support to Christian families affected by Colombia. The organization seeks to help these communities overcome the challenges of violence and rebuild their lives in a safer environment through humanitarian assistance, emotional and spiritual support and idyllic care. Additionally, as reported by Diario Cristiano, the church continues to develop strategies to save young people from addiction, including drug use.
However, it is up to the international community and Colombian authorities to face the challenge of implementing effective measures to protect minors and respect basic rights, and to put an end to these inhumane practices that continue to affect the country’s most vulnerable groups.
It was originally published by Diario Cristiano, the Spanish version of Christian Daily International.
