Child welfare and health crises reported in Venezuela and Colombia

In Venezuela, authorities in the Guajira municipality of Zulia state arrested three individuals following the disclosure of sexual abuse involving a 12-year-old girl. The victim reported the abuse during a school prevention activity. Police arrested Luis Alberto García, identified as the alleged perpetrator, along with Ana Hilda Pineda Rincón, the girl's mother, and Juan Carlos García, her stepfather. Authorities allege the mother and stepfather were aware of the situation and used threats to prevent the victim from reporting the abuse.

In Colombia, the Constitutional Court has ordered urgent measures to address health risks facing Wayuu children in the La Guajira department. Following judicial inspections in Riohacha, Manaure, Maicao, and Uribia, the court identified critical failures in healthcare delivery, including fragmented insurance affiliations that hinder the treatment of malnutrition and acute infections. The court also noted mental health concerns and potential suicides among minors in specific communities. The Ministry of Health has been directed to implement urgent psychosocial responses and medical brigades to reach dispersed rural populations.