Iryna Vereshchuk chairs meeting on implementation of Bring Kids Back UA Action Plan

A meeting on the implementation of the Bring Kids Back UA Action Plan was chaired by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories. Participants discussed the protection of the rights of children who have been forcibly transferred to the temporarily occupied territories or illegally deported from Ukraine. In particular, they considered possible measures to establish their whereabouts and return them to Ukrainian-controlled territory, to establish the facts of illegal adoptions, etc.

Participants also discussed the importance of documenting the criminal actions of the russian federation in refusing to return Ukrainian children.

The meeting on the implementation of the Bring Kids Back UA Action Plan was attended by representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General’s Office, central executive authorities, law enforcement agencies and UNICEF in Ukraine.

Participants were informed that since the introduction of martial law and up to mid-October 2023, the National Police had received 18,967 reports of missing Ukrainian children.

“So we need a state decision on their evacuation. First of all, the children with special status who are in the settlements not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities,” said Iryna Vereshchuk.

The official noted that it was very important to get all the information about them and this should be facilitated by international partners. The UNICEF representative in Ukraine confirmed the organisation’s readiness to help develop evacuation mechanisms and cooperate with all stakeholders.

Participants in the meeting also stressed that in order to ensure the safe return of children, it was necessary to provide them with comfortable conditions. They should also be provided with appropriate psychological, medical and financial support.