U.S. Ambassador William R. Brownfield met with representatives from ONIC, the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia on January 15, 2010. The Ambassador expressed his concern over the violence against the indigenous population around the country and appealed to the illegal armed groups to put an end to forced recruitment of indigenous children.
“The forced recruitment of indigenous children by illegal armed groups is a violation of International Humanitarian Law and the expression of indifference towards the most basic standards of human values,” said the Ambassador. “We appeal to all illegal armed groups to put an end to this practice,” he added.
The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia was founded as a response of the Consensus of Colombian indigenous communities and people during the First National Indigenous Congress in 1982. Its political platform is based on Unity, Land, Culture and Autonomy.
