Statement of non-governmental organizations addressed to the Members of the International Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children
Since the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, violations against Ukrainian children indicate a deliberate policy, rather than unfortunate consequences of the war. With the full-scale invasion, the violations grew in number and spread to the newly occupied territories by Russia.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred within occupied territory or unlawfully deported to Russia. Over two thousand have returned from occupied territory or Russia, but many more remain far from their family and home. Over one million Ukrainian children remain under occupation, enduring continuous risks, coercion, and violations of their fundamental rights. The severity and systematic nature of these violations have led the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine to conclude they amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes of deportation and forcible transfer of children, as well as unjustifiable delay in their repatriation. Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 3 December 2025 on Return of Ukrainian children brought attention to the practice of forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children, the separation of families and of children from legal guardians, subsequent forced change of children’s personal status, their citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and efforts to indoctrinate them.
The arrest warrants issued three years ago by the International Criminal Court against the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, sent a clear signal of international accountability. It, however, weakens with the refusal of State Parties to the Rome Statute to execute arrest warrants and the overall attacks, political pressure, and challenges arising for the International Criminal Court. The efforts of international partners to facilitate children’s returns are essential, but face the refusal of the Russian Federation to provide an accurate number of children forcibly transferred and/or deported, deliberate obstacles in their identification, and systemic measures designed to prevent or delay the return of Ukrainian children. Attempts to portray these cases as a singular matter of reunification of families, purposefully distort their nature and obscure an international crime committed by Russian representatives are particularly concerning.
Russia has consistently violated the regime of occupation and imposed its legal, governmental, judicial and administrative systems on the territories under its control, in principle treating them as Russian. In this, Ukrainian children in the occupied territories have been and continue to be subjected to the same violations as those unlawfully deported. Teaching children exclusively under Russian curriculum, only in Russian language, with propaganda of war and military service enshrined in formal and informal education, Russia aims to erase their Ukrainian identity and turn them into soldiers to be used for continuing and launching future wars. Imposing Russian citizenship upon the children and their parents, placing children in custody or up for adoption in Russian families seeks to ensure their transfer from one group to another and sever their path to return and carries genocidal intent.
In the view of years of efforts aimed at returning Ukrainian children, grateful for the dedication and support of the Members of the International Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children, we, Ukrainian organizations driving the critical work of identifying, returning, and reintegrating affected children, and ensuring accountability for these crimes, call on Coalition Members to:
- Continue political and economic pressure on the Russian Federation to ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported and to cease, without delay, any further practice of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families and legal guardians, change of personal status, including through citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, in accordance with the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on Return of Ukrainian children.
- Adopt and uphold sanctions against individuals and entities involved in violations against Ukrainian children, building up coordination of sanctions regimes among Coalition Members.
- Develop and implement a coordinated Road Map for Coalition Members outlining concrete measures to advance the return, accountability for violations, and reintegration of Ukrainian children, with clear benchmarks and mechanisms to track progress across all areas.
- Provide explicit and sustainable support to the International Criminal Court as an institution, as well as for the investigation into the situation in Ukraine, and ensure enforcement of arrest warrants issued against the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.
- Strengthen and expand the use of legal mechanisms to protect affected children in both judicial and quasi-judicial institutions at various levels. In particular, promote compliance with the recommendations of UN and OSCE system bodies, as well as facilitate the compensation for children by filing applications to the Register of Damage for Ukraine.
- Monitor and facilitate the implementation of the Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 3 December 2025 on the Return of Ukrainian children, particularly the actions requested to be taken by the UN Secretary General.
- Prioritise consistent support for established initiatives with demonstrated, proven effectiveness in searching, identifying, and returning Ukrainian children, in line with localisation principles and avoiding duplication of efforts.
- Establish comprehensive international protection and safety for civil society workers and volunteers engaged in the search and return of children, for example, by imposing obligations on Coalition Members to protect them, develop and implement coordinated safety protocols, and ensure access to legal assistance, insurance, and emergency response mechanisms.
- Undertake concrete measures to prevent, document, and respond to persecution, detention, violence, and other forms of pressure against civil society actors and volunteers involved in the search for and return of children, and ensure accountability for those responsible at national and international levels.
- Ensure sustained, long-term assistance for the reintegration of Ukrainian children by supporting Ukrainian organizations, recognising their unique expertise, and guaranteeing continuity of care so that no child is left without support.
- Invest in the capacity of Ukrainian communities to protect and support children, as a foundation for their successful reintegration, including through strengthening family-based care for children without parental care.
- By creating platforms for dialogue, organizing consultations, enabling direct engagement, ensure the meaningful participation of affected children in decision-making processes related to their rights and interests.
Signatories:
Human Rights Centre ZMINA
Ukrainian Child Rights Network
Save Ukraine
Voices of Сhildren
Regional Center for Human Rights
Crimean Human Rights Group
SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine
Charitable Organization “Foundation For the Future”
All-Ukrainian NGO “Magnolia”
NGO Centre of Psychological Help “Confidence”
Way Home Odesa Charity Foundation
Truth Hounds
Ноpe and Homes for Children Ukraine
Ukrainian Education Platform
ICF “Ukrainian foundation for Public Health”
Charitable Foundation Volunteers: Adults to Children
NGO Responsible Citizens
Charitable Foundation “Pomogaem”
All-Ukrainian public center “VOLUNTEER”
NGO “League of Social Workers of Ukraine”
NGO Donbas SOS
NGO “Institute for the development of social services”
All-Ukrainian Charity “Child Well-being Fund Ukraine”
NGO See with your heart
NGO Emmaus
NGO Vidchui
NGO “We are near”
NGO Merezhyvo
NGO MARTIN-club
NGO “Fundamental Research Support Fund”
CO “CF “EAST SOS”
Charitable Foundation “Orphans Future “
Crisis insight
NGO “CrimeaSOS”
Right to Protection CF
Charitable Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”
NGO HUMANITY
Charitable Foundation СARITAS-KYIV
GLOBA22 Foundation
Charity Organization “Blagomay”
ICO “Partnership “For Every Child”
