Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych took part in the International Forum "Three Years, Countless Futures: Protecting Freedom and Ukraine's Children" in Vilnius. The event was held at the Ukrainian Centre, which was opened in Lithuania on the joint initiative of the First Lady of Lithuania Diana Nausėdienė and the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. The Forum was opened by the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda. The participants comprised representatives of the political leadership of the Republic of Lithuania, international organisations and charitable foundations that provide assistance to Ukraine, in particular to children, as well as the academic community and experts in international law, child protection and psychosocial rehabilitation.

In her address, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska stressed the critical situation with the trafficking of Ukrainian children. According to official data, 19,000 Ukrainian children were forcibly deported, many of whom were taken to a so-called holiday camp, which, in fact, turned out to be a military educational institution. The children were isolated, deprived of the opportunity to maintain contact with their families and subjected to psychological pressure. Some died after forced ‘patriotic’ training. First Lady also reminded that Ukraine has a programme called Bring Kids Back UA, initiated by the President of Ukraine, which aims to help affected children.

Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, highlighted the unprecedented challenges faced by Ukrainian children as a result of the war. She called for the consolidation of international efforts to protect the rights of Ukrainian children, their recovery and adaptation in a safe environment.

"The reality of the war has seen thousands of Ukrainian children face what childhood should not: loss of home, separation from family, fear and uncertainty. russia is going even further - it is trying to steal their future through forced displacement and deportation. During the war, supporting families becomes a challenge for Ukraine, as every child should grow up in a family environment. Today we ensure that children return to their families by providing them with the necessary assistance. We create systemic solutions - from social services to the construction of housing for large foster families. Our goal is to support every family and provide children with a safe environment. We are grateful to Lithuania for lending a shoulder of support. Thanks to initiatives such as the Ukrainian Centre, Ukrainians abroad can feel at home," said Oksana Zholnovych.

During the three years of war, the russian occupation authorities have been committing one of the biggest war crimes - the illegal adoption and deportation of Ukrainian children, which is an attempt to erase national identity and destroy the future of Ukraine. However, despite these crimes, more than 1,200 children have been returned to their native land.

Oksana Zholnovych added that Ukraine is actively working on the reintegration of the returned children, with multidisciplinary teams in place to provide comprehensive assistance. The comprehensive reintegration system includes family support, psychosocial assistance, inclusive education and ensuring the right to a safe childhood.

"We continue to fight for the right of children to remain children. We have simplified adoption procedures - last year the figure reached a 5-year high - that's 1,268 adoptions. Foster care is also actively developing - 187 new foster families were created last year. We have launched an online platform for future, current and potential foster parents, where they can get all the necessary information," said Oksana Zholnovych.

She also stressed the importance of further support from international partners, in particular through grant programmes that help provide communities with quality social services for families with children in Ukraine.