Justice Minister Denys Maslov and UNICEF Representative in Ukraine Anne-Claire Dufay discussed the return of Ukrainian children deported or forcibly transferred as a result of Russia’s armed aggression. So far, 20,610 such cases have been verified, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice.
“Currently, 20,610 cases of deportation or forced transfer of Ukrainian children have been verified. This figure is not final, as information continues to be received and each case requires individual verification,” the ministry said.
The parties also discussed the further development of child-friendly justice, the sustainability of existing child protection mechanisms and new areas of cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and UNICEF.
“Today, Ukrainian children are going through severe hardships as a result of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. Our task is to ensure their access to fair justice and the necessary legal and psychological support. Despite all the challenges, Ukraine continues to develop a child-friendly justice system, and we look forward to continued systematic partnership with UNICEF in this area,” Maslov said.
He stressed that protecting children’s rights and developing juvenile justice remain among the ministry’s priorities and are an important part of Ukraine’s European integration commitments.
Particular attention during the meeting was given to children deported or forcibly transferred as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Ministry of Justice noted that the return of every Ukrainian child begins with identification and reliable information about their fate. Russia does not provide Ukraine with information about deported or forcibly transferred children. Documentation, verification and information sharing are therefore critical to locating the children and securing their return.
The Ministry of Justice maintains a register containing information on children deported or forcibly transferred in connection with Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and provides organizational support for the Interagency Commission responsible for verifying this information.
Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to deepen their strategic partnership and focus further cooperation on measures that deliver concrete and long-term results for Ukrainian children.
