Research on Ukrainian children abducted and deported by russia and ways of their return to Ukraine and reintegration presented at Media Center Ukraine

The Regional Center for Human Rights, the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, and the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation prepared a joint study “(Non-)Return of Children: Ukraine Faces Its Greatest Challenge Since Independence”. The study covers aspects such as the legal status of Ukrainian children under the control of the russian federation, the process of their return and reintegration, and provides recommendations to relevant authorities and international partners to improve the protection of the rights of affected children.

This was discussed during the presentation at the Media Center Ukraine.

“Our aim was to assess, from a legal perspective, the status of all children under the control of the russian federation. This means focusing not only on deported or forcibly displaced children, but also on the rather complex category of children who were forcibly brought to russia by relatives, sometimes without the consent of their legal guardians, be it both parents or one of the parents,” explained Kateryna Rashevska, an expert from the Regional Center for Human Rights.

She added that the study provides facts that refute the lies and russian propaganda, including those spread by the russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in her reports.

It also provides concrete arguments on how to explain to international partners why the stay of Ukrainian children on the territory of the russian federation is not in the best interests of the children and why their return, even though some of them have been on the territory of the russian federation for more than two years, would still be more in the best interests and rights of the children than their continued stay under the control of the russian federation.

“I believe that this study is fundamental because it provides specific recommendations for both the authorities and the international community. We have tried to approach this issue comprehensively, proposing mechanisms that are already familiar to the authorities, as we have discussed them many times before, such as return through mediation, legally binding agreements, or the adoption of resolutions or other documents at the General Assembly level,” noted Kateryna Rashevska.

Part of the study focuses on what happens to children after they return from russia, their condition, their needs, and the need for systemic support to ensure that their return becomes the beginning of a journey to a full life.

“Our part of the study was to create a concept and a program for psychological and psychosocial support for children. We wanted to emphasize that a psychologist is often not the first person a child asks for. Therefore, the cooperation of all kinds of organizations involved in helping children and government agencies dealing with children’s issues is crucial. This work is done at the community level, in small towns, villages and other places where children can get help,” added Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder and director of the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation.More information about the study “(Non-)Return of Children: Ukraine Faces Its Greatest Challenge Since Independence” is available here.

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