Organized crime targets children in Ecuador and Colombia

Organized crime and violence are increasingly targeting children in Ecuador and Colombia, leading to rising rates of recruitment and disappearances.

In Ecuador, criminal organizations are recruiting children as young as 10 to 13 years old to perform tasks within neighborhoods and schools. These groups utilize digital platforms, drugs, and money to attract minors. The issue has expanded beyond high-risk areas like Manabí, Guayas, and Esmeraldas, becoming a widespread social emergency that threatens families and communities.

In Colombia, the number of missing children continues to rise, driven by forced recruitment by armed groups and human trafficking for sexual and labor exploitation. While some minors leave home due to domestic issues, many are victims of organized crime. Recent reports highlight the severity of sexual violence against minors, with the Defensoría del Pueblo noting thousands of medical-legal examinations for alleged sexual crimes against children and adolescents in the first half of the year.