An international conference “Deported Ukrainian Children: Europe’s Actions” was held in Helsinki. It was organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Parliament of Finland under the auspices of the country’s First Lady, Suzanne Innes-Stubb.
The Bring Kids Back UA initiative, launched by the President of Ukraine, was represented at the event by its Chief Operating Officer, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President, Dariia Zarivna.
The conference brought together representatives from European parliamentary assemblies and institutions, international organizations, the human rights community, and Ukrainian government bodies.
In her speech, Dariia Zarivna highlighted the scale of the crimes the Russian Federation has committed against Ukrainian children and outlined the main directions for international cooperation necessary to ensure their return and reintegration.
“The Bring Kids Back UA initiative unites the efforts of all those concerned about the fate of Ukrainian children: state officials, civil society, international partners, human rights defenders, diplomats, and prominent public figures. Launched by the President in 2023, the initiative has now become a global movement for bringing children home,” Dariia Zarivna said.
She also reported that, to date, the Bring Kids Back UA initiative has successfully returned 1,307 children who were illegally deported or forcibly transferred by Russia.
The panel discussion “Return of Children: What Can Be Done?” featured speakers including: Ewa Kopacz, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University; Maria Stockhaus, Vice-President of the Nordic Council; Lady Helena Kennedy LT KC, Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Co-Chair of the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force; and Iryna Tuliakova, Head of Coordination Centre for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development in Ukraine.
“Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia have an inalienable right to their identity. This right cannot be taken away and must be restored as quickly as possible. Our Task Force is working on developing and implementing legal mechanisms to ensure their return to Ukraine,” said Lady Helena Kennedy LT KC.
This event marked an important step toward the return of Ukrainian children illegally taken by Russia. Ukraine consistently emphasizes that no peace will be just without the return of all deported and forcibly transferred children.