Within the framework of the campaign to promote demobilization and environmental care, the men and women of the Air Combat Command No. 4, CACOM 4, of the Colombian Aerospace Force have intensified their efforts in carrying out loudspeaker operations and launching brochures in various areas of the central west of the country. These operations are designed to raise awareness among the inhabitants and address critical issues that hit local communities.
Thanks to the resources of the Air Force aircraft, the crews of the Huey II helicopter of the CACOM 4, carry out overflights in the rural areas of Melgar and Icononzo, in which messages of social responsibility are transmitted to the surrounding localities, with the aim of raising awareness among the inhabitants about various social and environmental problems.
The main mission of these operations seeks to invite the inhabitants to denounce criminal acts that threaten the tranquility of the community, such as the forced recruitment of minors, the indiscriminate felling of trees and illegal mining; and in the same way to motivate the Residual Organized Armed Groups to lay down their weapons and rejoin civilian life.
The Ombudsman's Office reported 184 cases of forced recruitment of minors in 2023. 110 were children and adolescents, and 74 were girls and adolescents, ranging in age from 9 to 17 years. The most disturbed age group was the 14 to 17-year-old, with 123 cases. In addition, 68.4% of the victims belonged to indigenous communities, which highlights the vulnerability of these groups to this type of crime.
The Military Forces of Colombia, and in particular CACOM 4, have carried out two strategies to mitigate the impact of the Organized Armed Groups, the operations of launching brochures and aerial helicopters with loudspeakers are essential in this effort. These activities lead to reaching areas that are difficult to access, spreading clear and preventive messages that invite the reporting of illegal acts.
Source: Public Communication Office CACOM 4
