Reinsertion processes of children disengaged from armed groups in Colombia: what is the problem represented to be?

Abstract

Objective. There are estimates of up to 18,000 children engaged with armed groups in Colombia. After disengaging from these groups, their reinsertion into society is a great challenge. We looked into the discourse approaches towards these children and their reinsertion processes. Methodology. We conducted 64 interviews with professionals from different organisations active in the integration processes of these children and conducted the “What’s the problem represented to be?” approach. Results. This approach allowed us to outline two explicit discourses. The law-oriented discourse showed to be strongly influenced by international standards, and was found to be dominant in the governmental reinsertion programme. The alternative-oriented discourse showed resistance to this line of thinking. Conclusions. Through the interplay of these discourses, organisations showed to be limited in their practical implementations whereby the many efforts put into the insertion processes, and the insertion of children into society itself are jeopardised.