The Colombian government is concerned about the rise in pregnancies, murders, and suicides of minors throughout the country, according to a government welfare agency and the Inspector General’s Office.
Radio station Caracol Radio reported Thursday that Bienestar Familiar (ICBF), the government’s welfare agency, and the Inspector General’s office said they receive about 30,000 complaints of violations of minors’ rights each year.
“In terms of abuse we have a very serious indicator in the country where about 11,000 girls, less than 14 years old, become pregnant; that, in addition to being a violation of their rights, is a crime,” said ICBF Director Elvira Forero Hernandez.
Ilva Myriam Hoyos, a delegate from the Inspector General’s Office for Infancy and Adolescence, also reported that the homicide rate of youth between the ages of 15 and 26 has increased.
“This worries us deeply because, beyond infant mortality, we have to talk about juvenile mortality,” said Hoyos.
The inspector general delegate also said youth suicide rates have risen, especially in the southwest department of Nariño.