Indigenous children in Colombia's Cauca Valley are suffering from violence and displacement as their communities fight to reclaim ancestral lands, according to a new study by Nasa researchers. The study highlights the impact of ongoing conflicts between indigenous groups, drug gangs, and security forces on the region's youngest inhabitants.
The Nasa people, the largest indigenous group in the valley, have been at the forefront of the 'liberation of Mother Earth' movement, reclaiming land from sugar plantations and coca farms. This has led to clashes with riot police and armed groups, resulting in deaths and injuries among activists. The study notes that children are often caught in the crossfire, facing trauma and disrupted education.
Colombia's 50-year civil war officially ended with a peace accord in 2016, but violence has surged in the Cauca Valley as criminal groups vie for control of drug routes and land. The Nasa study calls for greater protection of indigenous children and their rights, urging the government to address the root causes of the conflict.
