Ukraine’s stolen children must come home
As negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine gather pace, Renew Europe insists that this renewed dialogue must put the fate of Ukraine’s deported children at the top of the agenda. No lasting peace can be built while thousands of children remain in Russian hands.
This is the message of the European Parliament’s resolution, debated today and put to a vote tomorrow. Negotiated by MEP Petras Auštrevičius on Renew Europe behalf, it sets out clear demands on Russia and on Europeans
The stakes are immense. Ukrainian authorities have verified 20,651 cases of children deported or forcibly transferred by Russia, and the real figure is likely much higher. Only 2,752 have come home. The UN Commission of Inquiry has called these deportations crimes against humanity. Many children are being stripped of their identity through forced adoption, forced Russification and placement in Russian re-education and military-patriotic camps, where they are subjected to indoctrination and military training.
Petras Auštrevičius (Liberalų sąjūdis, Lithuania), Renew shadow rapporteur for Ukraine and negotiator for this file said :
“Ukrainian children have only one homeland: Ukraine, where they belong. Any peace agreement must include provisions for the safety of Ukrainian children and the unconditional return of those who have been deported. Without children, Ukraine has no future and no hope for a better tomorrow. Our solidarity and support go to the affected families and to numerous Ukrainian and international organisations and volunteers who are working tirelessly and at great personal risk, to secure the return of Ukrainian children.”
Petras AuštrevičiusRenew Europe MEP, Lithuania, Liberalų Sąjūdis
Moscow must return the children
-Return every child immediately and unconditionally – an obligation under international law, never a bargaining and children must never be used as a bargaining chip;
-Provide complete and verifiable information on each child’s identity, whereabouts and legal status;
-Grant the Red Cross, UNICEF and the UN unhindered access to the children;
-Stop illegal adoptions, name changes and forced naturalisation;
-Belarus must also stop hosting Ukrainian children in re-education camps, while North Korea must end its involvement in their political indoctrination.
Europe must step up and act
-Extend sanctions to the whole network of enablers, including Gazprom and Rosneft;
-Prosecute perpetrators under universal jurisdiction;
-Fund the rehabilitation of returned children and the organisations tracing them;
-Make the return of the children a central element of any peace agreement.