Legal analyst of ZMINA, Onysiia Syniuk, spoke at a forum in Irpin on children’s rights during the war

On 1 June 2025, marking International Children’s Day, Irpin hosted a forum dedicated to the protection of children’s rights in wartime conditions. The event brought together representatives of state authorities, local self-government, civil society organisations, experts and youth initiatives.

During the forum, three discussion panels were held, where participants discussed the situation regarding the deportation of Ukrainian children and their return, guarantees for the observance of rights in further reintegration, as well as other key challenges that adults face in ensuring a decent childhood: russification, recruitment of teenagers, mental health issues, and access to quality education.

“In conditions where children are forced to live under the sound of sirens, stay in shelters and suffer constant psychological stress, the issue of their rights and safety is one of the central focuses of the government’s efforts, because children are the most vulnerable members among the population,” said Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Anhelina Dordiuk, Head of the Service for Children and Families of Irpin City Council, reported on the number of children affected by the war: “More than 3.5 million Ukrainian children have been affected by the full-scale invasion, more than 500,000 Ukrainian children are temporarily displaced, and every fifth child requires specialised psychological support”.

Approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia.

Onysiia Syniuk, Legal analyst of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, focused on the systematic indoctrination of Ukrainian children in the occupied territories and the danger of losing their identity.

“In the occupied territories, Russia has built a system that ensures the transformation of Ukrainian children into Russians in terms of identity. We need to talk not only about the children who have already been taken away, but also about the approximately 1.6 million children who remain under occupation. They face the risk of deportation, displacement, indoctrination and militarisation on a daily basis,” emphasised Onysiia Syniuk.

The forum paid special attention to children’s mental health. Experts emphasised that, in addition to the war, children’s emotional state is also affected by changes in their environment, a lack of qualified psychologists, online learning, social isolation and adolescent crises. The risks of recruiting teenagers were also discussed – participants urged adults to be attentive to changes in children’s behaviour.

“Children’s rights in wartime are not an abstract topic, but a living, everyday reality. We see how our peers face challenges that seemed impossible just a few years ago: deportation, loss, psychological trauma, and online manipulation. That is why it is so important to speak loudly and with expertise about children. We thank every participant and speaker for their active involvement,” said the Youth Parliament of Irpin.

The Youth Parliament of Irpin organised the event with the support of the Irpin City Council, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, the NGO UA Experts, and the Charity Fund Oleksandr Pashchynskyi.

The Human Rights Centre ZMINA is grateful for the invitation to participate in the discussion and supports initiatives aimed at protecting and developing children in the difficult conditions of war.

Photo: Oleh Hryb, ITV and Yellow Blue Wings PR department.