Colombia urges FARC rebels to release 2,000 child soldiers

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/15/uk-colombia-chid-soldiers-idUKKBN0N626320150415


BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Colombian government has urged FARC rebels to keep their promise not to recruit child soldiers and release the estimated 2,000 underage fighters in their ranks.

Commanders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said in February they would stop recruiting children younger than 17 in what was seen as a conciliatory step in peace talks between the leftist rebels and the government.


----------------------
The 8,000-strong FARC trains children to fight and use grenades and mortars, and to plant home-made landmines.

Children also take on the roles of messengers, informants and porters, while girls are used as sex slaves and undergo forced abortions, according to human rights groups.