August 29, 2024, New Delhi: On August 27, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Bring Kids Back UA Task
Force presented its new White Paper titled “Safeguarding Children from Forced Transfers and
Deportation”, in front of a global audience comprising of Ukrainian government officials, international
human rights lawyers, academics, NGOs and more. The critical document produced by the Task Force
addresses one of the most pressing issues arising from Russia’s war of aggression: the protection of
affected Ukrainian children from forced transfers and deportations by Russian forces.
The presentation focused on the White Paper’s key findings regarding the systematic forced transfer
and deportation of affected Ukrainian children by Russian forces. Through analysing existing documentation of these practices, the Task Force presents their critique of the justifications provided by
the Russian Federation for such actions. The paper also explores the potential violations of international
law, including breaches of International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, and
International Human Rights Law.
Members of the Ukrainian government and the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force in attendance included:
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Co-Chair of Bring Kids Back UA Task
Force, Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor – Commissioner of the President of
Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, and Daria Zarivna, Senior Advisor to the Head of
the Office of the President of Ukraine; Chief Operating Officer at Bring Kids Back UA among others.
In Andriy Yermak’s welcoming address, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said: “The
White Paper we are presenting today is at the heart of Ukrainian efforts to engage the international
community in restoring sustainable justice. Point four of Ukraine’s peace formula and the Bring Kids
Back UA Initiative has the clear goal to return every stolen child and bring them back home without
conditions or exceptions. This is not just a state initiative – it is our duty to our children and future
generation.”
Yermak continued: “Today we are not just presenting a document, we are urging action. We call to the
international community to decisively condemn this crime and do everything possible to return our
Ukrainian children.”
Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, added: “The White Paper depicts the elements of one of
the most well planned and organised international crimes by the Russian Federation. We need to
mobilise our efforts in order to locate and safely return all Ukrainian children. I fully believe that we
can succeed through joint actions and efforts expressly outlined in the White Paper, including in our
quest for justice and accountability. Time is of the essence. Therefore, I would encourage all
stakeholders to endorse this document and take feasible measures for its effective implementation.”
Sharanjeet Parmar, member of the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force and former lecturer at Harvard
Law School and child crimes prosecutor with the Special Court for Sierra Leone, presented the key
findings of the White Paper. In her speech, Parmar said: “The government estimates reach 20,000
children who have been forcibly transferred and deported, with even broader estimates running as high
as several hundred thousand. The common thread throughout all of these cases of transfers and
deportations is the lack of voluntary consent, especially not only on behalf of the children, but their
parents and guardians. The overwhelming majority of transfers and deportations of children have not
and cannot be justified under international humanitarian law based on the evidence to date.”
High-profile individuals and organisations from around the world, including the UK, U.S., Canada,
France, Brazil, India, South Africa and others, were also in attendance to hear the findings of the White
Paper. These attendees were called upon to express their opinions on the importance of the international
community coming together to support the work of the Task Force.
Priscila Caneparo dos Anjos, delegate for civil diplomacy to the World Trade Organization and the
Economic and Social Council (United Nations), shared her endorsement for the paper’s findings and
said: “Children are the silent victims of war. Documenting these violations is essential because it brings
attention to the plight of the children who cannot advocate themselves. Children are entitled to special
protection and international law. When states such as Russia violate these laws, it is our duty to ensure
the international community can hold them accountable.”
Dzvinka Kachur, Honorary President of the Ukrainian Association in South Africa (UAZA), said: “We
understand that the suffering of children during the time of war is, unfortunately, not a unique situation
for Ukraine. There are similar cases in the DRC, Sudan, and Western Sahara and we hope that the
solution for abducted Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation will also help to find a solution for
abducted children in the African continent.”
A.J. Hariharan, Founder Secretary, ICWO – Indian Community Welfare Organisation, Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India, said: “We would like to offer our huge support to bring back the children from Russia to
Ukraine. We need to commit to this important cause until the last child has been reintegrated with their
Ukrainian family.”
Dr. Amita V. Joseph, Social Activist from India, was also in attendance and shared the following
comments after the event’s conclusion: “Crimes against children are a non-negotiable anywhere in the
world. There must be zero tolerance for violence against children in conflict zones in Ukraine, as well
as Palestine and any other domestic or international conflicts. The mental health and trauma of these
children and their families is a critical area of concern. The international community needs to rally
together to call for peace efforts, and those companies profiteering from conflicts and wars need to be
boycotted.”
The speakers all echoed the urgent recommendations outlined in the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force’s
White Paper, calling on the Russian Federation and its allies to strictly comply with international law
and secure guarantees of non-recurrence. The White Paper urges Russia to collaborate with international authorities to release and return abducted Ukrainian children, adhere to child protection obligations,
and cease further forcible transfers and deportations.
The White Paper also issues a strong call to the international community to take decisive action. Global
leaders are urged to ensure Russia’s compliance with international child protection measures, support
the safe return and reintegration of these affected children, and provide the necessary resources to
restore them to their home communities. The Task Force emphasises that sustained international pressure is essential to halt these violations and protect the rights and futures of affected Ukrainian children. To learn more about the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force and download the white paper, please visit :https://www.bringkidsback.org.ua/
மின்னிதழ்
