Background on Reinserta and the Problem’s Significance
Reinserta, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has brought attention to the systematic recruitment of children, minors, and teenagers by criminal organizations in Mexico as a form of normalized violence that remains invisible. This issue was highlighted through a recent statement following an incident in Aguascalientes, where detainees at a training camp of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel included minors and individuals reported missing.
State Omissions and Structural Debt
According to Reinserta, the state’s failure to protect minors from violent environments and provide necessary legal tools and protection mechanisms is evident in this case. The organization emphasized that children continue to be exposed to violence without adequate support.
Social Normalization of Violence
Reinserta pointed out that the ongoing violence in Mexico is fueled by a social normalization that has made unacceptable behaviors commonplace. The collective insensitivity, resulting from years of impunity and misinformation, has led to further institutional abandonment.
Saúl’s Testimony: A Case Study
To illustrate the gravity of the situation, Reinserta shared the testimony of Saúl, a 14-year-old who survived involvement with criminal organizations in Mexico.
“I was in a place where power and violence were the only things that mattered. Becoming a hitman was not something I ever imagined doing, but that’s exactly what happened. One day, I was taken to the mountains, trained, and taught how to shoot. I started killing and exacting revenge,” Saúl recounted.
Statistics on Child Recruitment
Reinserta presented alarming statistics in 2023, indicating that nine out of ten individuals incarcerated had engaged in criminal activities before the age of six. Furthermore, seven out of ten minors involved in legal conflicts had contact with criminal groups within their communities.
Call to Action by Reinserta
In light of these findings, Reinserta urged recognition of the problem, increased visibility for its victims, and the creation of clear solutions.
“We consider it crucial to acknowledge the recruitment of girls, boys, and adolescents by criminal organizations as the grave offense that it is—a crime that steals childhood, violates rights, and leaves deep scars on the Mexican social fabric,” Reinserta emphasized.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue highlighted by Reinserta? Reinserta draws attention to the systematic recruitment of children, minors, and teenagers by criminal organizations in Mexico as a form of normalized violence.
- Why is this issue significant? This problem leaves minors exposed to violence without adequate legal tools or protection mechanisms, perpetuating a cycle of impunity and social insensitivity.
- Who is Saúl, and what does his testimony reveal? Saúl is a 14-year-old survivor of criminal involvement in Mexico. His story sheds light on the coercive nature of child recruitment into criminal activities.
- What statistics does Reinserta present regarding child recruitment? According to Reinserta, nine out of ten incarcerated individuals engaged in criminal activities before age six, and seven out of ten minors involved in legal conflicts had contact with criminal groups.
- What action does Reinserta call for? Reinserta urges recognition of the problem, increased visibility for its victims, and the development of clear solutions to address child recruitment by criminal organizations.
