In an effort to bring the issue of minors involved in illegal armed
groups and to sponsor ethical reporting on the issue, IOM Colombia
recently held the first of three workshops for journalists.



Although there are no official figures on the number of minors in
illegal armed groups in Colombia, it is estimated that thousands
are somehow connected to the groups. Many times, the children join
the groups to escape extreme poverty, lack of opportunities and/or
domestic violence; others join in search of recognition.



The workshops are part IOM's programme that provides assistance to
minors who have been demobilized from illegal armed groups. The
first session, in the city of Medellin, was carried out in
cooperation with the Colombian NGO Periodismo Amigo de los Derechos
de la Infancia (Friendly Reporting on Childhood Rights, or PANDI),
with financial support from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID).



IOM has directly assisted 3,357 ex-combatant minors in the areas of
health, psychosocial support, education, income generation, and
culture and leisure activities, amongst others. The program, also
receives financial support from the governments of Canada and
Italy, has a prevention component that seeks to identify risk
factors and to provide protection. A total of 19,000 persons
including the children, parents and teachers have received
assistance.



In 2006, there were only 151 news stories referring to demobilized
minors which appeared in just nine Colombian media outlets.



For the most part, Colombian journalists are not specialized on the
topic of minors and armed conflict, and media coverage is governed
by the day-to-day issues of importance. Because demobilized minors
and those at risk of recruitment constitute an "invisible" subject
for media coverage, along with policies for their protection,
responsible media coverage had not been addressed.



Journalists also lack the legal tools and in-depth knowledge
(social, cultural and emotional) of the situation of children.
Therefore, many journalists are not prepared to do in-depth
interviews, to contextualize the issue vis a vis the law, they do
not what type of information should be reported on in order to
expose violations of the rights of these children and adolescents,
and to seek restitution for the injustices they have endured..



IOM and its partner will provide training to more than 120
journalists on the legal aspects of covering this sensitive issue,
information sources, and tools for ethical coverage even when
facing tight deadlines.



The other workshops will be held in Pasto and Barranquilla, both
departmental capitals with significant numbers of demobilized
minors and others at risk of recruitment and where this issue tends
to be invisible.



For more information contact

Jorge Andres Gallo

IOM Colombia

Tel: 57.311 5619495 or 57.1.622 77 74 ext. 114

Email: "mailto:jgallo@oim.org.co" target="_blank" title=
"">jgallo@oim.org.co