Court in Colombia sets conditions for airstrikes in presence of children — Colombia Reports
The 34th Family Court of Bogotá in Colombia has set strict conditions for military airstrikes against illegal armed groups in places where children and adolescents who are victims of forced recruitment may be present. At the same time, the court lifted the suspension of such strikes introduced earlier this month in response to a lawsuit.
Conditions for airstrikes
As Colombia Reports reports, the military cannot consider minors lawful targets solely because they belong to an illegal armed group. Before authorizing and conducting an operation, commanders must strengthen the verification and cross-checking of available information about the possible presence of minors in the area of a potential target.
The assessment of the presence of children must be explicitly included in the legal and operational analysis of an attack. The military must also assess the foreseeable risk to the lives and personal integrity of minors, as well as consider less harmful means, methods, timing of the operation, or alternatives capable of ensuring a comparable military advantage.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Protection of children’s rights
The court ordered strict compliance with the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality in accordance with international humanitarian law. The ruling states that the rights of children who are victims of forced recruitment take priority over the success of a military operation.
The Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, ICBF, must be involved in military operations. The institute was instructed to strengthen mechanisms for children and adolescents to leave armed groups, restore their rights, provide comprehensive assistance and reintegration through a differentiated and territorial approach. The court also asked the ombudsman and the Office of the Inspector General to monitor the implementation of these orders to strengthen the protection of children’s rights.
