Determining factors in children's recruitment by armed groups in Guayaquil.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the underlying causes and factors that contribute to the incorporation of minors into armed and criminal groups in Guayaquil. An exhaustive review of the specialized literature on the recruitment of minors in Ecuador, neighboring countries and government reports, international organizations and NGOs that address this problem was carried out, with a particular focus on Ecuador. The results revealed several key factors that contribute to the recruitment of minors: extreme poverty, lack of access to quality education, family disintegration and normalization of violence. The conclusions derived from this study highlight the urgent need to implement comprehensive public policies that address the structural causes of child recruitment.