Statement by the delegation of Ukraine during 79th UNGA Third Committee general discussion under agenda item 67 “Promotion and protection of the rights of children” (10 October 2024)

Chair,

We align with the statement by the European Union and would like to add some points in the national capacity.

Ukraine, as a signatory to key international agreements aimed at ensuring children's rights, remains committed to strengthening child protection, particularly in response to the devastating impact of Russia’s war of aggression.

As full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, the devastating toll on Ukrainian children—both mentally and physically—continues to grow. 

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified the deaths of at least 579 children and the injury of 1,284 since February 2022, with numbers rising daily as Russia intensifies missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Millions of Ukrainian children continue to face severe disruptions to their education. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, constant shelling by Russian army has forced students to attend classes in underground schools. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Education, about 3,500 educational institutions have been damaged by bombing and shelling, with 365 completely destroyed.

Moreover, Russia continues to obstruct the repatriation of kidnapped Ukrainian children by imposing additional conditions and complicating verification processes. Thousands of children—including orphans, those without parental care, and those forcibly separated from their families—remain in Russia, where they are subjected to indoctrination, forced Russian citizenship, adoption or foster placement with Russian families, and even name changes.

Many others remain trapped in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, enduring forced "re-education" and "russification," aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity and conditioning them to serve as obedient soldiers for the Russian military.

These actions by Russia blatantly violate international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which explicitly forbids altering the personal status of children during conflict and under occupation.

Ukraine is committed to securing the return of all children forcibly transferred by Russia. In February, Ukraine and Canada co-chaired the establishment of the International Coalition for the Return of Deported Ukrainian Children, as part of the Bring Kids Back UA plan and the Peace Formula’s fourth point. We urge all nations that have not yet joined the 40-member initiative to do so.

To strengthen the protection of children affected by the war, we have established constructive collaboration with the SRSG CAAC and the UN country team. Last year we signed a Joint Prevention Plan, which has been implemented and extended for the coming year.

The Secretary-General’s decision to keep the Russian armed forces in the annex of his annual report on Children and Armed Conflict for the second consecutive year is fully justified. Russia's failure to prevent such atrocities has worsened, with intensified shelling of civilian areas causing numerous child casualties.

We urge the UN, and especially SRSG CAAC, to continue pressing the Russian Federation to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. This includes ending all grave violations against children in Ukraine and ensuring the safe return of all Ukrainian children forcibly and illegally held by Russia.

Chair, 

Ensuring accountability and ending impunity for grave violations against children is a top priority for Ukraine. We urge Member States to fulfill their obligations by executing the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for the President of the Russian Federation and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, who bear "individual criminal responsibility" for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Chair,

We commend UNICEF for its efforts to address the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s invasion, saving lives and protecting millions of Ukrainian children affected by the war. We also extend our sincere gratitude to all states providing humanitarian assistance and shelter to Ukrainian children, meeting their basic needs, and ensuring a safe environment.

To end the ongoing suffering and violence inflicted on Ukrainian children by Russia’s aggression, we call on the international community to unite and intensify efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and its children.

Thank you.