Colombians who are displaced by violence cannot be obliged to provide military service, a court ruled Monday.
The court came to the ruling in the case of a young man who suffers from bipolar disorder and is the only son of a displaced family. He appealed the army’s decision to provide military service despite his conditions.
The judge explained in his verdict that “the obligation of military service for displaced people is not imperative (…) so the state has the obligation to give these people a military exemption card,” according to El Espectador.
Colombian men between the age of 18 and 24 are typically required by law to serve in the armed forces for 18 months.