9th November, 2009

DAVID ADAMS

Christians are celebrating after the Colombian Supreme Court ruled its citizens can opt out of obligatory military religious service because of religious, moral or philosophical objections.

Prior to the decision, which was handed down on 16th October, only young men studying to be Catholic priests were guaranteed the right to conscientious exemption.

The Colombian Mennonite Church - which maintains a pacifist tradition - is among religious and human rights groups which have been advocating for the right to be guaranteed by the courts. It is also part of the Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches which has been lobbying for the move through its Commission for Restoration, Life and Peace.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has welcomed the decision with Stuart Windsor, CSW’s UK director saying the issue was “particularly pressing” in a country which has been torn in half by conflict for 50 years.

“We congratulate the Colombian Supreme Court in taking the lead in recognising the right to conscientious objection, and now call on armed groups to also respect the right of Colombians to refuse to participate in acts of violence because of their beliefs.”

It is estimated there are around 11,000 child soldiers in Colombia. While most of them have been recruited into illegal armed groups, there have been cases of minors working with state security forces.

Speaking to Sight, CSW spokeswoman Anna-Lee Stangl says it is “unlikely” illegal armed groups would respect the decision.

“Forcible recruitment of adults, young people and even children is sadly a regular practice,” she says. “However the fact that the government now recognises a right to conscientious objection means that they have the moral high ground on this particular issue. It sets an exmaple for what Colombian citizens have the right to expect regarding their right to choose whether or not to participate in the conflict, and makes the violations being committed by the illegal armed groups even starker.”

According to CSW, Colombian young men are eligible to be drafted but the government allows for men of age 16 or 17 to be drafted with parental agreement. CSW’s partners in rural areas have documented cases of boys as young as 14 being forcibly abducted into the military in some rural areas.

Ms Stangl believes the Colombian Government policy has contributed to a culture of violence in the country.

“Colombia has experienced cycle after cycle of violence throughout its history, to the point where violence - whether it is participation in the Government military or illegal armed groups (or in previous cycles - groups of political partisans) has become the norm,” she notes.

“The government's requiring of young men to take part in the conflict, without allowing for exemptions for reasons of conscience, has helped to feed this culture where violence and warfare are seen and understood to be part of everyday life.”

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