Author:
Mariia Kucova
Ukraine is in need of comprehensive, sustainable solutions to protect children who have endured forcible deportation by the Russian Federation.
Olena Rozvadovska, the head of the Charitable Foundation “Voices of Children”, an organization dedicated to supporting children, stressed this point during Olena's participation in the panel discussion “Repatriation and Rehabilitation of Ukrainian Children After Deportation” in Strasbourg. The discussion was part of the international conference “Deportation of Children During Armed Conflicts.”
Creating a safe space to process traumatic experiences, along with emotional stabilization and psychological support, is among the most critical needs for children returning from forcible deportation or from occupied territories,
Rozvadovska stated.
Rozvadovska stated.
Olena advocates for comprehensive, sustainable solutions for the protection of children who have endured deportation, including:
- The expansion of services locally, in communities, and in de-occupied territories. “This is an area that requires coordinated efforts by the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Every child should have access to regular mental health and support services.”
- To successfully rebuild after the war, we must develop comprehensive retraining and professional development programs for psychologists, educators, medical professionals, and social workers. It is essential to ensure that there are enough qualified professionals in every community.
Support from European countries plays a vital role in implementing both immediate support systems and long-term recovery programs. At the conference, participants learned about the HELP course for enhancing legal awareness among Ukrainian lawyers. This Council of Europe project was developed following PACE recommendations to create conditions for the safe return of forcibly deported children by the Russian Federation, stop Russian crimes, and punish perpetrators.
How “Voices of Children” Supports Children Post-Deportation
The “Voices of Children” team has developed a Concept Paper (Guidelines) for Supporting Children who have been Deported or Forcibly Relocated to Russia. The document established guidelines for psychological support, legal frameworks, and ethical standards for helping young people who have survived forced deportation.
The Foundation's mental health specialists work closely with the office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman of Ukraine) accompanying children after deportation during interviews with law enforcement agencies, to prevent re-traumatization of minors. In this regard, they also train officials from the Prosecutor's Office, National Police, and Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).
The Foundation also plans to build a Rehabilitation Center in the Kyiv region, dedicated to supporting children after forcible deportation by the Russian Federation.
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