UN General Assembly adopts resolution on the return of Ukrainian children

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the resolution “Return of Ukrainian Children”. The document was supported by 91 countries.

The resolution aims to protect the rights of Ukrainian children who were unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by the Russian Federation from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. It calls on Russia to ensure the immediate and unconditional return of all illegally deported Ukrainian children.

“Bringing every illegally taken Ukrainian child home remains one of the key priorities of the state. Ukraine will continue working with international partners to ensure the safety, support, and reintegration of all children affected by the war,” said Denys Uliutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine.

The resolution condemns the forced deportation of children, changes to their citizenship and legal status, attempts to place them in Russian families, and other actions aimed at erasing their identity or family ties. It emphasizes that such practices violate international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the forcible transfer of children from occupied territories.

The General Assembly also calls for comprehensive investigations of crimes committed against Ukrainian children and for holding those responsible to account. It notes the importance of international efforts aimed at securing the safe return of Ukrainian children, as well as ensuring their rehabilitation and access to medical, psychological, and educational support.

The resolution further instructs the UN Secretary-General to coordinate the work of all relevant UN bodies, engage with the Russian Federation to establish the whereabouts and conditions of the children, and ensure that international humanitarian organizations have access to them.

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