On behalf of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Ukrainian delegation led by the Advisor – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation, Daria Herasymchuk, visited Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador.
Meetings were held with parliamentarians, government representatives, ombudspersons, civil society activists, and journalists. The Ukrainian representatives spoke about cases of Ukrainian children being killed and wounded during Russia’s aggression, as well as sexual violence, deportation, and the forced transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation.
Daria Herasymchuk presented President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative and the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. She invited experts from Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru to join the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force.
“I propose that your countries become friends of Ukraine and partners in building a global child protection system. After all, this is not only about Ukrainian children. Today, it is our Ukrainian children, but tomorrow it could be children from any country,” she emphasized.
The delegation also included two Ukrainians who shared their personal stories. One had endured the blockade of Mariupol as a child in 2022, was abducted by Russians, and forcibly transferred to the temporarily occupied territories. The other grew up and studied in occupied Luhansk.
In addition, during a meeting with representatives of Mexico’s specialized institutions, the parties agreed on areas of cooperation and the exchange of experience in child-friendly justice, the protection of rights, and the investigation of crimes against children.
Lawmakers in Peru expressed their solidarity with Ukraine, their commitment to peace, and their determination to protect the most vulnerable Ukrainians.
In Ecuador, the delegation met with members of the National Assembly, heads of the UN and UNICEF country offices, and held talks with Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero. She underlined that her country shares Ukraine’s concern for the fate of children worldwide.
Following the visit, Ukraine expects Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador to join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
The visit was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with partner financial support.