PACE adopts resolution calling to recognize deportation of Ukrainian children as war crime and genocide against people of Ukraine
This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform.
It is noted that 83 parliamentarians voted for the relevant resolution "The Situation of Children in Ukraine" at the morning plenary session of PACE in Strasbourg.
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the urgent debate before the adoption of the document.
"More than 19 thousand children are in Russian captivity. Only over three hundred have been returned. At this rate, it will take us more than 50 years to free them. We don't have that much time. Even a year is a lot for a child," Zelenska emphasized.
According to her, the stories of liberation confirm that it is possible to save some of those who are older, "it is much more difficult to find and return the younger helpless ones."
Zelenska emphasized that the document refers not only to children deported to Russia and Belarus, but also to millions of Ukrainian children who are victims of war, experiencing its physical and psychological consequences every day.
What PACE has adopted
The PACE resolution called on "member states, as well as observer states and states whose parliaments have observer or partner for democracy status with the Assembly, as well as the entire international community, to adopt statements or resolutions at the level of national parliaments condemning war crimes against children and recognizing deportations, forced transfers and unjustified delays in repatriation of Ukrainian children that occurred during the war as crimes."
PACE also proposes to create a special rapporteur on the situation and return of Ukrainian children deported and forcibly displaced by the Russian Federation and Belarus at the Council of Ministers and calls on the Assembly to use all the experience of parliamentary diplomacy to help Ukrainian children in cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities.
To date, the Children of War platform, created by the Government of Ukraine, has collected information on more than 19,546 children who have been deported or forcibly displaced from various places, and only 388 of them have been able to return home.
The document also contains an important political confirmation that Russia is committing the crime of genocide by systematically abducting Ukrainian children.
The decision also states that even those Ukrainian children who benefit from the EU's temporary protection system "should receive education and health care, including mental health support adapted to their specific situation, in order to maintain contact with their language and culture, which will facilitate their future return to Ukraine."
