Chief Operating Officer of Bring Kids Back UA and Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Dariia Zarivna met with Julie Davis, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in Ukraine.
One of the key topics of the meeting was Russia’s systemic policy of erasing the identity of Ukrainian children, including forced passportization and militarization in the temporarily occupied territories, as well as the involvement of youth in the temporarily occupied territories in paramilitary organizations.
The discussion also addressed the challenges related to the deportation and forced relocation of Ukrainian children by the aggressor state.
Dariia Zarivna presented the Bring Kids Back UA initiative launched by the President of Ukraine and outlined its main areas of activity. She spoke about ongoing efforts to locate and verify information regarding abducted children, with particular emphasis on return efforts, including third-country mediation and the organization of rescue missions.
The COO of Bring Kids Back UA also provided detailed information on the reintegration and rehabilitation system for children who have been successfully returned to Ukraine from deportation or forced relocation to Russia or temporarily occupied territories. She also outlined the work of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and the Bring Kids Back UA International Expert Group.
Dariia Zarivna and Julie Davis discussed advocacy efforts at the international level and strategic communication related to the return of Ukrainian children.