International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
On this page
- About the Coalition
- Russia’s unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children
- The Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
- Canada’s role in the Coalition
- Members of the Coalition
About the Coalition
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children (the “Coalition”) was officially launched in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 2, 2024. The Coalition will coordinate joint efforts and cooperation between Ukraine and partner states to address the issue of the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation.
The Coalition is co-chaired by the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Canada and aims to bring Ukrainian children home to their families and communities. The Coalition will also focus efforts on supporting their reunification with families.
Russia’s unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children
Thousands of children are reported to have been illegally deported or forcibly transferred. The large-scale displacement, transfer or illegal abductions of Ukrainian children is undisputed. So far, fewer than 400 children have been successfully returned to Ukraine from Russia, of estimated thousands.
The issue of displaced Ukrainian children has been ongoing since Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014 and has come to light following Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against President Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, on the basis of reasonable grounds to believe that each bears responsibility for the war crime of “unlawful deportation of population (children) and of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”
The Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
The ultimate objective of the Coalition is to bring Ukrainian children home to their families and communities. This will be done in compliance with international law, by keeping the best interests of the child at the core of the Coalition’s actions.
In support of these efforts, Canada and Ukraine will work together toward the following goals:
- Coordination of Joint Efforts: Coordinate joint efforts among Ukraine and partner states to address challenges related to the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of children.
- Information Sharing: Ensure timely, accurate and ethical sharing of information, supporting the creation of robust statistics and coordinating the ethical sharing of relevant case details between Ukrainian authorities and partners, and to response mechanisms supporting the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children.
- Capacities alignment: Synchronize the diverse capacities, expertise, and financial resources of Ukraine and partners to support the Coalition’s work.
- Advocacy and Communication: Advance efforts to secure the release of children through awareness raising meetings, and in international forums via high-level diplomatic engagements.
Canada’s role in the Coalition
As co-chair, Canada is working closely with Ukraine to organize the Coalition, to support dialogue and information exchange and to coordinate key messages between key stakeholders. We are focusing on amplifying many of the existing efforts and sharing lessons learned, specifically those that have successfully resulted in the return of children.
As part of this initiative, Canada will offer practical expertise, with Canadian officials ready to assist their Ukrainian counterparts should they express a need for technical expertise and resources.
Canada launched the #BringKidsBack Communications Network, an international network of Coalition members that work on shared information campaigns to raise awareness and advocate for the safe return and well-being of deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
At the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, in Lucerne, Switzerland, Canada announced a package of measures to support Ukrainians which aims to:
- Support vulnerable children, youth at risk, and the reintegration of displaced children returning to Ukraine through improved child protection services and family-based care options.
- Increase families’ and civil society’s awareness about the missing persons process.
Members of the Coalition
The following countries are active members of the coalition:
- Albania
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
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