04/05/2022 16:43

The Commissioner met with a delegation of the international non-governmental organization Save the Children

Held the meeting with a delegation from the international non-governmental organization Save the Children, led by Chief Operating Officer David Wright.

Thanked the representatives of Save the Children for providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian children.

Focused on the forced deportation of Ukrainian citizens, including children, by the occupiers.

The occupier plans to adopt Ukrainian orphans and children deprived of parental care to russian foster families under a simplified procedure.  Then the documents confirming the Ukrainian origin of the children will be destroyed.

In Russia and in the territories temporarily occupied by it, our children are forced to study the russian language and propaganda, destroying their national identity.

Militarization of Ukrainian children is intensifying in Crimea and ORDLO.  There are already two victims among the pupils of the so-called "cadet corps" whom the occupiers are forcing to take part in hostilities against Ukraine.

All these actions of the Russian Federation fall under the definition of genocide of the Ukrainian people.

Noted that the Commissioner's hotline had already received appeals to search for 1,889 missing children.

Appealed to Save the Children to assist in the search for missing persons and the return of deported Ukrainian children home to Ukraine or Europe.

The issue of providing, with the assistance of Save the Children, specialized psychological assistance to children affected by the war on the Commissioner's hotline was discussed separately.

It was agreed that I would provide Save the Children with information on the humanitarian needs of the population of the occupied territories and areas of hostilities, which is received daily by the Commissioner's hotline.

We continue to cooperate and exchange information to respect and protect the rights of Ukrainian children!