Colombia courts restrict military bombings to protect minors

Colombian courts have imposed restrictions on military aerial bombings to protect minors recruited or used by illegal armed groups. A judge in Bogotá, Viviana Arciniegas Gómez, issued a precautionary measure ordering the Presidency and the Armed Forces to refrain from offensive air operations against targets where there is verifiable information regarding the presence of children or adolescents.

This judicial intervention follows military operations in regions such as Guaviare and Catatumbo, which resulted in the deaths of several armed group members, including minors. For instance, a strike against the ‘Carolina Ramírez’ structure in Guaviare resulted in 23 deaths, including two minors. Such incidents have sparked controversy and legal challenges regarding the protection of underage individuals caught in conflict zones.

The government, including the Ministry of Defense, attempted to challenge these restrictions, arguing for the necessity of maintaining operational capabilities. However, the Bogotá court recently reaffirmed the temporary suspension of these bombings while the underlying legal action (tutela) is studied in depth. Similar judicial orders have also been issued in Guaviare to suspend bombings when intelligence suggests the presence of minors in operational areas.