““We have a common goal – to make the work on finding, returning and reintegrating children more effective. It is also important to document cases of deportation and forced displacement in order to bring justice. That is why we are actively involving the public of Ukraine in Bring Kids Back UA,” Daria Zarivna emphasized.”, — write: www.president.gov.ua
Advisor to the head of the Office of the President and operational director of Bring Kids Back UA Daria Zarivna, deputy head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk and adviser to the President on child rights and child rehabilitation Daria Gerasimchuk held a meeting with representatives of civil society. It was attended by representatives of organizations that search for deported and forcibly displaced children, document crimes against children and help with the reintegration of those who managed to return home.
“We have a common goal – to make the work on finding, returning and reintegrating children more effective. It is also important to document cases of deportation and forced displacement in order to bring justice. Therefore, we are actively involving the public of Ukraine in Bring Kids Back UA. The experience of national organizations is unique. We also work with organizations abroad, paying special attention to the countries of the Global South,” Daria Zarivna emphasized.
The adviser to the head of the President’s Office noted that Qatar and the Vatican act as mediators in the negotiation process regarding the return of children. According to the results of the Ministerial Conference in Montreal, South Africa also plans to join the efforts of these countries. In addition, Croatia, Estonia, Argentina, Canada and Ukraine will cooperate to find detailed information about deported and displaced Ukrainians in Russia and its occupied territories.
Iryna Vereshchuk noted that the Ministry of Justice updates data in a separate register containing information on deported and forcibly displaced children. An important result of this work will also be the standardization of the procedure for providing information for the register and access to it.
“It is important that we have a single database on deported children, the history of their displacement and their number. Russia does not provide information, and therefore we must join forces as much as possible to put pressure on it. We understand that human rights defenders also have information, children and their relatives can contact organizations directly, so we need to constantly exchange data, coordinate efforts to find and return children,” she said.
Darya Gerasimchuk noted that work is ongoing to promote the “Stolen Voices” information campaign abroad and involve countries in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
She also called on public organizations to join in spreading children’s stories and information about ways to save them: “I want the voices of Ukrainian children to be heard. They sounded loudly all over the world. After all, their votes are being stolen by the Russian authorities. And it is only in our power, the power of adults, to return the opportunity to children to speak and tell the truth.”
“Children who have survived deportation or forced displacement need professional help and support from the first days after their return, because they have been in stressful circumstances and without a sense of security for a long time. That is why, along with social support, it is important to provide psychological support to both children and the families they return to,” said Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder of the Children’s Voices Foundation.
During the meeting, representatives of the public sector shared feedback on the interaction with the Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine and provided suggestions regarding joint information campaigns, as well as the active involvement of experts in the implementation of projects aimed at reintegration and restoration of justice for children.
