Msgr. Fernando Camilo Castrellón Pizano SDB, bishop of Barrancabermeja, in a statement sent to all parishes, stressed that "it is a commitment of all Colombians build peace together ... the parishioners are called to strive to ensure that peace flowers in the hearts of each and everyone (...). The country is going through a difficult period and it is indeed urgent to work towards disarmament and building reconciliation together. "
A report prepared by the NGO "Human Rights Watch" reports that "the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN) continue to commit serious abuses against civilians, including killings, threats, forced displacement, recruitment and the use of children as soldiers." "The FARC since 1975, have unlawfully recruited 11,556 children," said the public prosecutor Jorge Perdomo.
No doubt, the Salesians were among the most active in helping children and adolescents and are probably among the institutions with the best facilities in Colombia to accommodate children who leave the guerrillas.
"In 14 years,” - said Fr Rafael Bejarano, – “we have supported 2,300 children who had escaped from the guerrillas and those who were captured by the army". Children were accommodated in the two facilities at Medellin and Cali, and the success rate, that is, the effective social reintegration, reaches around 85% of the total.
"Often teenagers come to us between 13-14 years of age and are still illiterate! Especially, the girls are often the victims of repeated violence and have experienced the tragedy of abortion, "concluded Fr.Rafael sdb.
