Antioquia. An ICRC doctor treats a minor who had been held by the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AGC).
Valle del Cauca. A person who had been held by the Jaime Martínez Front (formerly part of the FARC-EP and not currently covered by the peace agreement) is handed over to the ICRC, in the presence of the ombudsman’s office, the UN fact-finding mission and the community guard.
Nariño. On Saturday, 22 October 2022, 16 people were handed over to the ICRC by the Segunda Marquetalia, an armed group.
Nariño. A minor who was being held by the Franco Benavides Front is handed over to the ICRC.
Antioquia. A minor who was being held by the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AGC) was handed over to the ICRC in November.
Norte de Santander. Five people were handed over to the ICRC in Catatumbo. They had been held by Frente 33 (formerly part of the FARC-EP and not currently covered by the peace agreement).
Chocó. A man who had been held by the National Liberation Army (ELN) is handed over to the ICRC and the Catholic Church.
Antioquia. An ICRC delegate talks with one of the three people who had been held by the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AGC).
Valle del Cauca. A patrol officer of the Colombian National Police who had been held by the Jaime Martínez Mobile Column is handed over to the ICRC.
Arauca. Two people who had been held by the Frente 10 (formerly part of the FARC-EP and not currently covered by the peace agreement) are handed over to the ICRC.
Arauca. Two minors who had been held by the National Liberation Army (ELN) are handed over to a humanitarian delegation made up of the ICRC, the ombudsman’s office and the Catholic Church.
International humanitarian law grants particular protections to children (including adolescents), civilians and people no longer taking part in hostilities, protections that armed groups must also provide. For this reason, we applaud the humanitarian gesture of the armed groups for releasing these individuals to be reunited with their loved ones. We also appreciate the dialogue with weapon bearers and people affected by armed conflict and other violence, which enabled us to reach the most remote and least accessible places in the country, places where no one else can go.
As a humanitarian organization, we do not make public statements about who was released, why they were being held by armed groups or what their living conditions were like.
We request that journalists and others working in the media and other communication channels also refrain from disclosing such information, particularly with regard to minors, in order to allow us to continue carrying out our humanitarian work and to protect the dignity of the people released and their families.
We do discuss these matters in our dialogue with the armed groups. Our dialogue with them, with the authorities and with communities is strictly confidential.
We will continue supporting the communities and individuals affected by armed conflicts and remain ready to carry out other humanitarian operations to mitigate the dramatic consequences of armed conflict and other violence in our role as a neutral intermediary.
Remaining neutral in a conflict does not mean that we are indifferent to the suffering of its victims. On the contrary: not taking sides allows us to enjoy the trust of the parties and therefore go to those places that are worst hit by the violence and relieve human suffering.