Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) issued formal summons on Wednesday to several former FARC leaders. The indictments target high-ranking militants, including Rodrigo Timochenko Londoño, for systematic crimes against children committed between 1971 and 2016.
The 18,677 minors recruited as "terrorist soldiers"
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has documented a massive scale of exploitation involving the forced recruitment of 18,677 minors. According to the court's findings, these children were utilized as "terrorist soldiers" within the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) during the decades-long armed conflict.
Beyond recruitment, the judicial body detailed a pattern of extreme violence used to maintain control over these young soldiers. the report states that 104 children suffered torture, 62 were executed, and hundreds of others were subjected to forced labor, such as installing antipersonnel mines or serving as human shields during engagements with state forces .
Forced abortions and 137 pregnancy terminations
The indictments reveal a harrowing campaign of reproductive violence against female members of the group. Investigators found that 91 girls were subjected to forced abortions, often conducted without medical professionals or basic hygiene standards.
The court also documented that 156 women were forced to undergo contraception, leading to 137 cases of forced pregnancy termination. In some instances, the court noted that minors were coerced into surrendering their newborns to third parties, with at least two documented cases of newborn murders linked to FARC activities.
Timochenko’s 2027 summons and the 30-day response window
Rodrigo Timochenko Londoño and five other high-ranking ex-militants are required to appear before the transitional justice court between April 7 and 9, 2027. This appearance is intended to force these leaders to formally acknowledge their responsibility for the forced recruitment of thousands of children.
While the top leaders face a multi-year wait, nine regional FARC commanders are under much tighter scrutiny. Magistrates Lily Rueda and Belkis Izquierdo have imposed a strict 30-day deadline for these commanders to respond to their indictments. If they fail to acknowledge responsibility, they will face full criminal trials with potential prison sentences of up to 20 years.
The 2016 Santos peace deal and Case 07
These legal proceedings are part of the broader framework established by the 2016 peace agreement negotiated by former President Juan Manuel Santos. Although Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending the conflict, the JEP's "Case 07" investigation highlights the ongoing struggle to achieve true accountability for historical atrocities.
The investigation into the mistreatment of child victims persists despite the official disbanding of the FARC. The court's work is complicated by evidence suggesting that FARC elements remain active in Colombia,committing crimes well after the 2016 cutoff date intended to end the hostilities.
Will the nine regional commanders choose trial over confession?
The upcoming legal battles raise several critical questions that the JEP has yet to resolve. It remains unknown whether the nine regional commanders will accept responsibility to avoid trial, or if they will contest the documented evidence of sexual violence and torture in court. Additionally, the source reports only the JEP's perspective , leaving the defense's position unrepresented.
There are also significant unanswered questions regarding the current operational structure of the FARC elements that continue to function in Colombia. While the indictments target former leaders, the specific identities and locations of the groups currently operating post-2016 remain unverified in this judicial phase.
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