Colombian Farc: No recruitment of soldiers under 17 Published duration 12 February 2015

image copyright Getty Images image caption Thousands of young former Farc guerrilla soldiers are trying to make a new life in safe houses and in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Colombia's cities and towns

The left wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas say they will no longer recruit young people below the age of 17.

A Farc spokesman said that the new policy increased the group's recruitment age by two years.

He denied that they had a policy of forced recruitment, and said many young people came of their own free will.

However, the Colombian government says it has rescued almost 6,000 former child soldiers in the last 15 years.

The defence ministry said most of the children they had rescued had been between 16 and 17 years old, but 30% of the rescued children were boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 15.

image copyright AP image caption Ivan Marquez, chief negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), (C), said the organisation wanted to reach a peace accord with social justice

Meanwhile, Farc accuses the Colombian military of using forced recruitment and says children are used by the military to infiltrate Farc positions.

In a statement, Farc said: "We want to take steps that will ensure that fewer generations and fewer young people will be involved in military confrontations which put their lives at risk."

Farc's announcement came on the UN's International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

According to a report by Colombia's National Centre for Historical Memory (in Spanish) , more than 220,000 people have been killed in the armed conflict between Farc rebels and the Colombian government.

Peace talks in the Cuban capital Havana have been taking place for more than two years. The two sides have reached partial deals on several issues but have not yet reached a definitive peace accord.

Related Topics Farc

Colombia