Child recruitment crisis persists in Guatemala and Colombia

In Guatemala, a formal complaint presented to Congress warns that gangs are recruiting minors within child protection centers. Deputy José Chic reported that adolescents linked to criminal structures are sharing facilities with children separated from their families due to violence or abandonment. The lack of a profiling system to identify and isolate gang members within the 124 protection homes—comprising 106 private and 18 public facilities—allows for easy recruitment.

The National Civil Police noted difficulties in intervening, as such cases depend on specialized judges. Authorities highlighted that even adolescents detained for violent crimes may receive minimal sanctions, complicating efforts to combat gang participation.

In Colombia, the issue of child recruitment persists amid military operations. Recent deaths of teenagers during a bombing in El Retorno, Guaviare, have highlighted the state's struggle to protect minors. A Bogotá judge ordered a temporary suspension of bombings in areas where the presence of recruited children is verified, pending the adoption of comprehensive protection measures.

Data from Medicina Legal indicates that approximately 65 children aged 14 to 17 have died during military operations during the current administration, primarily in Guaviare, Arauca, and Putumayo. The Defensoría del Pueblo estimated that 73 minors died in military operations between August 2022 and June 2026.