Protection of Ukrainian children’s rights – meeting between Ministry of Social Policy and PACE

A team from Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, led by Deputy Minister for European Integration Iryna Postolovska, held a meeting with a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Network on the situation of Ukrainian children. The delegation included Paul Gavan (Luxembourg), Eerik-Niiles Kross (Estonia), Sigurður Helgi Pálmason (Iceland), and the Network’s Chair, Olena Khomenko (Ukraine).

During their visit to Kyiv, the PACE Network delegation held a series of meetings with representatives of state authorities, including ministries, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and civil society organisations, to assess the situation in Ukraine amid a new wave of russian attacks.

Particular attention was given to reforms in the child care system. A substantive discussion with representatives from the Ministry of Social Policy, the Coordination Centre for the Development of Family-Based Care, the National Social Service of Ukraine, and UNICEF Ukraine focused on ensuring every child’s right to grow up in a safe family environment.

“Our priority is to ensure that every child in Ukraine grows up in a safe family environment. We are also working on the return of children deported to russia. They must return to safety, to families where they will receive support, and we are implementing reintegration programmes to provide access to a wide range of social, medical, and educational services.

The return of children forcibly evacuated abroad as part of institutions is carried out with their best interests in mind, following an individual assessment of their needs. A family environment is the priority for placing children upon their return. We are doing everything to ensure that every child grows up in safety and with the support guaranteed by the state, acting solely in their best interests,” Iryna Postolovska stated.

The meeting marked an important step in strengthening international support for Ukraine on issues of children’s rights protection. The Ministry of Social Policy expressed gratitude to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for its active participation in this critical discussion and its readiness to support Ukraine in these complex matters.

Background 

The PACE Parliamentary Network on the situation of Ukrainian children brings together parliamentarians from 46 Council of Europe member states, representatives of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and observer countries. Established in June 2024 following the adoption of a relevant resolution, the Network supports Ukrainian authorities and international organisations working with Ukrainian children, particularly in their efforts to identify, return, and rehabilitate deported children.