Author:
Mariia Kucova
On March 13, the European Parliament discussed the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and ways to solve this problem. The Ukrainian delegation included lawyer and board member of the “Voices of Children” Foundation, Andrii Chernousov, communication consultant from the Center for Civil Liberties, Olha Pustovit, and Valeriia Halych, who was returned from the Russian deportation along with her mother.
Before the debates began, the Members of the European Parliament applauded the Ukrainians continuously and loudly.
Key points of the debates
Ukraine has managed to identify 19,546 deported children, but the exact number remains unknown. Only 388 of them have been returned. Most of the abducted Ukrainian children are either orphans or those deprived of parental care.
Deportation, along with other most severe war crimes, can indicate Russia’s genocidal policy towards Ukraine,
emphasized Andrii Chernousov in a commentary to “Voices of Children”.
emphasized Andrii Chernousov in a commentary to “Voices of Children”.
Not only do the Russians abduct Ukrainian children, but they also attempt to change the children’s identity. To achieve this, the enemy enforces children to sing the Russian anthem, study pseudo-history, write letters to the Russian military occupiers, and participate in numerous “military-patriotic” events.
According to Russian legislation, which allows for the “adoption” of deported Ukrainian children, citizens of the aggressor country can change the names, dates, and places of birth of these children. This is precisely what happened to 10-month-old Marharyta Prokopenko from Kherson.
Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė has called on the European Union to condemn the Russia’s actions and recognize them as an element of genocidal policy against the Ukrainian people. Additionally, they emphasized the need to create a special working group to assist Ukraine in the search, return, and rehabilitation of these children, and to provide stable funding for the group's work.
According to Juknevičienė, Ukrainian organizations such as “Voices of Children”, “play a crucial role in these efforts”, therefore it is essential to support them.
Informal meetings and the book "War through the Voices of Children"
The Ukrainian delegation met with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and presented her with the book “War through the Voices of Children”.
Metsola addressed Valeriia Halych, who had returned from the Russian deportation, encouraging her not to remain silent about her experiences.
I want to ensure that what you have been through will never be forgotten. Please share your story with as many people as possible. It is crucial,
emphasized Metsola.
emphasized Metsola.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian delegation was heard by four of the most influential parliamentary groups:
- European People’s Party;
- European Conservatives and Reformists;
- European Green Party;
- Renew Europe.
During informal discussions, the Ukrainian delegation engaged with more than 10 Members of the European Parliament. These parliamentarians expressed strong support both for the girl who had returned from the deportation and for the “Voices of Children” Foundation.
Share: