Social Service for Peace: An overview of the new alternative to compulsory military service in Colombia

On 28th August 2024, the Colombian government issued a decree establishing an alternative to military service, referred to as Social Service for Peace. This alternative service is part of the current government's broader policy aimed at achieving what is known as “total peace" following the 2016 peace agreements. The alternative service was originally proposed as a step towards gradually eliminating military service in the country. However, this intention is not explicitly stated in the decree.

According to the decree, the alternative service will be implemented gradually from the start of the 2025 fiscal year. These are some of its general provisions.

• The alternative service will last the same length of time as compulsory military service, which is currently 12 months.
• Those who complete the alternative service will receive a certificate equivalent to the military card (libreta militar) and will be classified as second-class reservists.
• The implementation of the alternative service will be overseen by the Administrative Department of the Public Function, along with other ministries, including the Ministry of Defence.
• This alternative service will be recognised and certified as experience for first employment.
• Young men who are within the age range for compulsory military service, aged between 18 and 25, will be able to opt for the alternative service.
• There is provision for young women as well as for anyone who has a valid reason for exemption from military service, to undertake this service voluntarily,
• The places available for the alternative service will be limited and will depend on the budget allocated by the Administrative Department of the Public Function. Certain criteria will be established to prioritise young people if there are more applications than available places.
• Young people will be able to undertake the alternative service in various approaches, including digital literacy trainings in rural and urban areas, working with victims of armed conflict, promoting the peace agreements and peace policies, protecting the environment, advocating for the rights of ethnic and rural communities, caring for individuals with disabilities or elderly people, implementing the rural reform, preserving and promoting the nation's material and immaterial heritage, assisting those affected by natural disasters, and providing education on risk management and climate change. These options are designed to enable young people to promote a culture of peace and advocate for human rights.
• These different areas will be managed by different ministries and state institutions, including the Ministry of Technology, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Equality and Equity, the Unit for the Attention of Victims of Conflict, the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Culture, Art, and Knowledge, and the Disaster Risk Management Unit.
• The Ministry of Defence will be part of the "Technical Committee for the Social Service for Peace". It will be responsible for managing the information system, registration, and certification of the young people who undertake the social service for peace.
• Those who do the social service for peace will receive a financial allowance equivalent to 80% of what a young man in military service receives as salary, along with the corresponding legal benefits (health and occupational safety).
• Those doing the alternative service will undergo a process of registration, training, practical experience, and certification.
• Although, Conscientious Objection is included in the Recruitment Law 1861 of 2017 and it's also recognised by the Constitutional Court, the decree does not mention it. 

The Observatory of Militarism has raised issue regarding this decree. While they recognise it as a valuable initiative that fosters dialogue on peacebuilding in Colombia, they also highlight several critical issues: like the military service, the alternative service remains mandatory. The Ministry of Defence continues to oversee the military status of young men, as it is responsible for certifying their completion of the alternative service classifying them as second-class reservist. Furthermore, the Observatory criticises the decree for failing to address the issue of conscientious objection. Watch the video from the Observatory of Militarism here, which discusses these issues and some more.