Colombia conflict endangers schools and fuels debate over peace tribunal

An NRC report documented that at least 12,000 students and teachers were affected by attacks from illegal armed groups in Colombia during the first half of 2024. Sixty‑one incidents were recorded in seven departments, with four out of ten attacks occurring on routes used by pupils and the majority taking place inside school premises. The report highlighted occupation of school facilities, use of explosives, forced recruitment of minors and direct combat in classrooms, underscoring the insecurity faced by rural education.

Separate data from the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) shows that forced recruitment of children by the FARC affected 18,677 youths between 1971 and 2016. The JEP, now a focal point of national controversy, is being debated by the incoming government, which has suggested its possible abolition. Analysts argue that despite its imperfections, the JEP remains the only institutional mechanism to address decades of armed‑conflict atrocities and to process thousands of pending cases.