The story of ‘Dayana’, the 15-year-old minor recruited by the ELN and now in the hands of FARC dissidents
A 15-year-old girl, who calls herself ‘Dayana’, appears in a video recorded by FARC dissidents in Catatumbo. She, surrounded by AK-47 rifles, was recruited by ELN criminals amidst clashes and ended up in the hands of FARC dissidents after an ambush in a rural area of Tibú, in Catatumbo.
TL;DR
- A 15-year-old girl, 'Dayana', was recruited by the ELN and is now in the hands of FARC dissidents.
- She appears in a video released by the FARC dissidents, speaking nervously and stating she was an 'enfermera' (nurse) for the ELN.
- Authorities recently uncovered a network recruiting minors for 'Iván Mordisco' dissidents in La Tebaida, Quindío, rescuing twelve minors.
- In Colombia, a minor is recruited or used by armed groups every 20 hours.
- Child recruitment has increased by 300% in the last five years, with over 1,200 minors affected between 2019 and 2024.
- Dissident groups, the ELN, and the Clan del Golfo are among the main recruiters.
- Recruitment tactics have evolved to include promises of money, protection, and belonging, alongside more subtle pressures and threats.