Children recruited by armed groups in Colombia

Children in Colombia are recruited, forcibly, by insurgent and paramilitary groups to serve as combatants in the country's ongoing conflict. In fact, the average age for deserters from these armed groups has gone down, which suggests that younger children are being recruited. Some children have been required to perform forced labor by guerrillas and paramilitaries. Many are forced to participate in and are victims of human rights violations such as torture and murder. Many girl combatants are subject to sexual exploitation by other group members. Reportedly, children have been used by government armed forces as informants.