We, the Ukrainian Education Platform, condemn the forced removal of children from Ukraine to russian-occupied territories or their deportation to russia and adoption by russian families granting russian citizenship to Ukrainian children.
The other day, together with a number of international organisations, we officially expressed our position, in which we condemned the criminal actions of the russian federation.
A few theses from the position:
Most of the children who were taken away are not orphans but have living parents or other relatives in Ukraine.There is also information that children with disabilities were transferred to psychiatric and other institutions allegedly for treatment.That’s an acceptable thing.
Under international law, adoption is not an acceptable response to unaccompanied and separated children.Until the fate of the parents, relatives of the child is established by the authorized bodies in Ukraine, each child is considered to have living relatives or legal guardians.Providing Ukrainian children with russian passports and transferring them for adoption contradicts the fundamental principles of protecting children in times of war.
Every child displaced by the conflict in Ukraine must be cared for in accordance with recognised standards.It can only be temporary family alternative care in the host country or region, provided that it is accompanied by clear steps to trace them and reunite with their families, communities through cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities.
Child abuse exposes children to a high risk of harm, loss of identity and culture, and prolonged or permanent separation from their families.
We condemn such practices and call on all parties to conflict to respect international laws and standards that exist to protect children in conflict and other emergencies.