Courageous reporting and deep source work exposed the crisis of child recruitment in Colombia

By Steven Grattan and Nadege Mazars

To shine a light on the recruitment of children by armed groups in Colombia, reporter Steven Grattan and photographer Nadege Mazars traveled to the dangerous Cauca region, facing immense logistical challenges and physical risk. Gaining the trust of justifiably fearful sources was paramount to their success.

Leveraging her years of experience in the area, Mazars made key connections, often promising photos only with concealed faces to put sources at ease. This careful, on-the-ground approach allowed the team to interview more than 20 young people, including escaped recruits who recounted harrowing stories of sexual abuse and mistreatment.

While other outlets might report from a distance, Grattan and Mazars embedded with the Indigenous Guard to capture their fight to protect their youth. The resulting text and photo package powerfully illuminated the crisis, earning praise from NGOs for putting readers “right in the middle of it” and serving as a testament to the team’s courageous reporting.