International Human Rights Conference: How Ukraine returns prisoners and protects children’s rights during the war

On December 5, 2024, the International Human Rights Conference, “The Decade 2014-2024. Reclaiming Human Rights. Preserving Democracy” was attended by politicians, people’s deputies, diplomats, civil society representatives and international organisations. The Human Rights Centre ZMINA also joined the discussion on important issues.

Ukrainian prisoners: search and return

One of the key panels was the discussion “Ukrainians in Russian captivity: search and return home”, moderated by Alena Lunova, Advocacy Director of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. Among the speakers were: Maksym Butkevych, Ukrainian human rights defender, Co-Founder of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, journalist, public figure, serviceman and a recently released prisoner of war; Vira Biriuk, freed civilian; Noel Calhoun, Deputy Chief Monitor of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine; Stanislav Miroshnychenko, Head of Information Department of the Media Initiative for Human Rights; Yevheniia Kravchuk, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Member of the Permanent Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Oksana Senatorova, Legal and Political Advisor at Geneva Call; Yurii Kovbasa, Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the security and defence sector; Andrii Pasternak, Head of the Joint Centre for Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War Illegally Deprived of Liberty as a Result of Aggression against Ukraine, under the Security Service of Ukraine; and Dmytro Usov, Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

The participants of the panel discussed the emotional stories of prisoners and the mechanisms of their return. In particular, human rights defender Maksym Butkevych and civilian Vira Biriuk, both released from Russian captivity, shared their stories.

“Today, many people are working on the strategy and tactics for the return of Ukrainian prisoners, both by government agencies and the civil society sector. Only joint actions together with international partners can we succeed in this matter,” said Alena Lunova.

Cooperation between the state and civil society

The Advocacy Director of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA also spoke at the panel “Partnership between the government and civil society as a guarantee of the rule of law in a democratic world”. She emphasised the importance of joint work between the state and civil society organisations: “We are in the same boat with the state authorities. And this is because of the war. A lot depends on our joint work. A vivid example of such cooperation is the European integration path that Ukraine is currently going through. We need to strengthen ourselves and learn to work with the state at the proper expert level.“

Alena Lunova

Deportation, indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children in the TOT

Another important topic of the conference was the rights of Ukrainian children deported by Russia. Onysiia Syniuk, Legal Analyst of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, contributed to the coverage of this issue at the panel “War for Identity: Decades of Suffering and Resilience of Ukrainian Children”.

The participants of the panel drew attention to the fact that Russians systematically teach children to hate Ukraine and integrate them into youth organisations, militarised movements, cadet classes and corps that form future Russian patriots and soldiers. Children are also transferred to Russian families for guardianship or adoption.

The panel raised the issue of the responsibility of the organisers of this system, emphasising the need to consider all these actions as a single comprehensive system of Russian crimes. Responsibility should be born not only for the deportation and not only for Putin and Lvova-Bielova, but also for all those who maintain the functioning of this system.

“Indoctrination, militarisation, eradication of the identity of Ukrainian children and handing them over to Russians should be part of the charges. All those responsible for this system must be punished, from the leaders to the executors,” stressed Syniuk.

The speakers also discussed the deportation of Ukrainian children, their militarisation and their use for propaganda purposes. Valeriia Sydorova, a child who went through forced displacement, shared her story of returning.

This conference was an important platform for discussing current challenges, including the return of prisoners, child protection and strengthening cooperation between civil society and the government. The Human Rights Centre ZMINA continues to work on these issues and calls on international partners to support Ukraine.