Attorney General's Office denounced the use of children as human shields in Emberá protests: Prosecutor's Office already investigating
Recently, videos were circulated showing children and adolescents amidst protests led by members of the Emberá Katío indigenous community.
TL;DR
- Videos emerged showing children and adolescents involved in Emberá Katío indigenous protests.
- The alleged use of minors as human shields has been called a grave violation of rights.
- The Attorney General's Office filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor's Office to investigate the instrumentalization of minors.
- The delegate for childhood and adolescence stated that the complaint is based on visual evidence of minors participating in protests.
- This conduct is a violation of national and international laws, and overrides indigenous autonomy in penal matters.
- Minors have been exposed to dangers in improvised street settlements for approximately 15 days, preventing institutional intervention.
- The Attorney General's Office warned of risks including malnutrition and respiratory illnesses due to the conditions.
- The Prosecutor's Office will determine if there are sufficient grounds to charge those responsible for instrumentalizing the children.