Female rebels prepare for peace

(3 Sep 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4053417 As Colombia's main rebel group, FARC, prepares to sign a peace accord with the Colombian government, the group's female rebels face a different challenge; returning to their lives as wives and mothers. Last week, the government of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia reached a historic deal bringing to an end 52 years of hostilities by Latin America's largest insurgency. There are an estimated 7,000 guerrillas preparing to put their weapons down once Colombians endorse the agreement in a nationwide referendum on Oct. 2. Many of the female guerrillas meanwhile, entered the rebel ranks as teenagers and know almost nothing about the fast-paced urban culture that awaits them in Colombia's cities. Female rebel Omaira Solarte said she is looking forward to peace, as she would be able to spend more time with her son and family. As a group of female fighters were preparing to travel to a nearby guerrilla camp for a football tournament, they giddily applied makeup and tried on street clothes in what would've been an unthinkable social outing just a few months ago. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...