On 14 October 2009, the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled on a "demand of unconstitutionality" submitted by several Colombian organisations in March 2009 (see CO-Update No 46, April 2009). Suprisingly, the Court ruled that the right to conscientious objection to military service is protected under the Colombian constitution. The Court gave it as a task to the Colombian Congress to now pass a law on conscientious objection to military service.

Colombia does not recognise the right to conscientious objection. Conscientious objectors live with the permanent risk of recruitment by the Armed Forces of Colombia, in one of the frequent batidas, checkpoints set up by the military on busy streets or places, to check the papers of young people at recruitment age. In addition, they face further violations of their human rights.

El día 18 de marzo fue radicada ante la corte constitucional de la República de Colombia una demanda de inconstitucionalidad del artículo 27 de la ley 48 de 1993 por la cual se reglamenta el servicio de Reclutamiento y Movilización.

WRI's Colombian affiliate Red Juvenil reported a new round of arbitrary recruitment in Medellin in October and November 2008. 'Batidas', the recruiting of youth on the street or public places if they cannot show the right military papers, have been observed in various places of Medellin, among others the main transport terminal in the north of Medellin, several metro stations, the football stadium of Medellin, and in several poorer neighbourhoods of the city (Comunas 2, 5, 6, 13).