Colombia and FARC Rebels Agree to Release Child Soldiers

Child soldiers in Colombia are set to be freed from the FARC rebels’ command after years of forced service. A deal made at peace talks in Havana, Cuba gives priority to recruits under the age of 15 to be released, though the deal applies to all recruits under 18, according to the Colombian government. FARC agreed to find the young recruits and arrange for their release, while the government says it will pardon them and treat them as victims of war in cases where law permits it. It is unclear how many child soldiers will be released, but FARC has previously said it has 13 soldiers under the age of 15 left. The group began releasing the first of an estimated 2,000 child soldiers in early February.