ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the adaptability of illegal armed groups in recruiting and exploiting children and youth in Colombia from 2002 to 2022, which was marked by periods of transitional justice. Due to the multitude of actors, they are categorized into five main groups: guerrillas, paramilitary groups, strongholds, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia dissidents, and localized armed groups. The objectives are twofold: (1) understanding why, despite prevention efforts, armed groups persist in recruiting minors; and (2) identifying prevention opportunities. First, the authors explore the evolution of illegal armed groups and their recruitment tactics. Then, utilizing Natural Language Processing, they examine 5.4 million words and 919 documents from the Colombian Ombudsperson’s Office’s Early Warning System. In the discussion, the authors emphasize prevention priorities, opportunities to reduce the recruitment and use of minors, and the challenges of addressing this issue within the broader context of post-conflict reconstruction.
