Those who report crimes die. Those who stay silent survive. We believe this toleration on the government's part is a serious violation of human rights. To an alarming degree, the state has withdrawn, ignoring the threat to its citizens, including children. We consider this toleration a serious violation of the right to life, protected in numerous conventions signed and ratified by the Colombian government.
Impunity is ubiquitous for the murderers of children.
A recent study by the Procuradur a Delegate for Minors and Families found that only twelve cases involving child murders in 1993 had resulted in a trial. It must be noted that impunity is enjoyed by almost all murderers in Colombia, not just those who kill children and not just those in uniform. Nevertheless, while many murders stem from common crime, a significant number were carried out by agents of the state, and were neither investigated properly nor prosecuted. Despite numerous police purges, officers continue to be implicated in the murder of children. While we support the dismissals of officers who commit violations, we believe that they should also be prosecuted in civilian courts for these crimes.