Healing for Sexual Violence Survivors in Colombia

In Colombia, MADRE continues to support Taller de Vida (TdV) to facilitate critical healing processes for survivors of war, like Sofia. Sofia left the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) nine years ago, after being recruited at age 12 by her uncle. Over four years, she was trained as a child soldier, forced into hard labor, and sexually exploited.

After Sofia was left for dead by the FARC when an accident left her disabled, she was eventually discovered by the Colombian army and taken to Bogotá for a "re-establishment process.” Her assigned guardian family brought her to TdV to seek psychosocial support. 

At TdV’s center, Sofia felt comfortable enough to open up and share her lived experiences as a child soldier and was even supported in the process of reuniting with her biological grandmother, whom she regretted not disclosing her decision to join the war. Sofia shared, "At TdV, I felt like a child again–we sang, they gave us delicious food, and they listened to us. For the first time in my life, I went to the movies and met important people from universities and other countries." 

In this recent Forbes article, you can learn more about TdV’s reintegration methodology, which has supported Sofia, and over 20,000 other survivors of war, in overcoming the impact of violence in their lives.

On February 12, 2002, the use of child soldiers in armed conflict was condemned by international law. So far, more than 150 governments have ratified this law. Despite this, armed groups across the globe continue to recruit and utilize child soldiers.

In Colombia, where MADRE partner, Taller de Vida (TdV), works, child recruitment by armed groups persists amid a resurgence of conflict in the war-torn country. Even though the country has continued to implement the 2016 Peace Accord and the FARC demobilized, paramilitary groups are still causing violence. The economic and social consequences of COVID-19 have also led to increased recruitment of children to become soldiers. Schooling has halted for many, recreational activities have stopped, and families’ livelihoods have been at stake.

Each February, MADRE and TdV commemorate the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, also known as Red Hand Day. Red Hand Day calls for action to stop this practice, and for support for children affected by it. On February 12th of each year, TdV joins fellow organizations, schools, and children across Colombia and worldwide in raising awareness of child recruitment and advocating to political leaders for its end. This year, they organized virtual ceremonies for girl survivors of war and former child soldiers. The children sang songs, shared their stories, and painted their hands red, with the hope of a more peaceful future.

Child soldiers are survivors of physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual violence. While some children manage to escape conflict, many find it difficult to overcome their trauma. Healing and rehabilitation have been especially challenging for former child soldiers who are girls, since reintegration programs are often ill-equipped to address their distinct psychosocial needs.

MADRE and Taller de Vida fill this gap and support Afro-Colombian and Indigenous girls exploited as child soldiers or abused by armed groups with mentorship and rehabilitative care tailored to their unique needs. Thanks to your support, survivors of war are receiving somatic care, art therapy, and human rights education that foster healing. With you, we’re helping girls build new lives and futures for themselves, and amplify their activism as they raise awareness and work to prevent further violence in their communities. We thank you for making this life-saving work possible!