Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - In 2011 117 children were murdered in Colombia, 41 of them under 5 years of age. This is what emerges from the statistics, sent to Fides, on the toll statements released at the end of 2011 concerning violent deaths in America. In Colombia, in particular, this violence was relentless against the weak: according to information sent to Fides, half of the children killed in the country in 2011 were victim of firearms, according to a report offered by Senator Gilma Jimenez . The Report states that of 117 children under 14 years of age, 65 were killed by gunfire and other due to violence on behalf of family members or friends. The areas where the greatest number of children were killed are Antioquia, Valle, Risaralda and Bogota. Of the total deaths, 48 were girls and 69 boys, and 41 of them under 5.
The Congress of Colombia has approved the proposal of the mayor of Bogota, Gustavo Petro, regarding the disarmament and called for a coordination of all the mayors to ensure that this measure is adopted only in some municipalities, which would make it ineffective. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 04/01/2012)
