Kyiv – Arab Canada News

It was officially announced in Kyiv the launch of the "International Alliance for the Return of Ukrainian Children," with the participation of 41 countries, led by Ukraine and Canada. This coordinated international step aims to end the tragedy of the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children who were illegally transported by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The alliance is led by the governments of Ukraine and Canada, and its core priorities include returning children to their families and communities within a framework that respects international law and prioritizes the child's best interest over any political or diplomatic considerations.

Documented War Crime... and Extensive International Cooperation

Reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations indicate that Russia has forcibly deported thousands of Ukrainian children to its territory or to areas under its control. To date, less than 400 children have been returned, whereas the number of deported children is estimated to be in the thousands.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in March 2023 against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin's Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, on charges of committing a war crime through the "illegal deportation of children" from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Goals of the Alliance:

Among the key goals of the international alliance:

Coordinating joint efforts among member states to address the legal and humanitarian challenges related to the deportation of children.

Accurate and secure information sharing to support tracking and response mechanisms, and to develop reliable databases on deported children.

Mobilizing resources and expertise to support search, rehabilitation, and family reunification operations.

Escalating diplomatic and media efforts to ensure international pressure on Russia and to achieve justice for children and their families.

Canada's Leadership Role

Canada, as a co-chair of the alliance, is responsible for coordinating political messaging, sharing sensitive information, and providing technical assistance when needed. It also launched a communication initiative called #BringKidsBack to raise global awareness and intensify political and media pressure for the return of children to their families.

The Canadian government announced – during the "Peace Summit in Ukraine" in the Swiss city of Lucerne – a package of humanitarian measures to support returning children, which includes:

Improving protection services and family reintegration.

Enhancing the capacity of civil society to report missing persons and address the impacts of forced displacement.

41 Countries Participating in the Alliance

The alliance includes countries from various continents, including: Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, as well as countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

This international move reflects the growing global consensus to reject the deportation of children as a tool of war, hold those responsible for this crime accountable before international justice, and work to end this ongoing tragedy since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.