Reintegration of children after deportations: second White Paper presented in the Office of the President
Children of war are a special category of victims of armed conflict. Not only do they see horrors that no child’s eye should ever see, but they often suffer direct suffering: separation from their families, forced displacement, destruction of their homes and loss of a safe environment. In the case of Ukraine, the war has brought new challenges – Russia is forcibly transferring Ukrainian children to its territory in an attempt to destroy their national identity and deprive them of their connection to their homeland. It is against the backdrop of these dramatic events in Ukraine and abroad that the development of strategies for the protection and reintegration of such children upon their return from deportation is of great importance.
The Office of the President of Ukraine hosted a presentation of the second White Paper on the reintegration of Ukrainian children returned from forced displacement and deportation. The document is entitled ‘Reintegration of Children Survivors of Deportation and Forced Displacement: International Standards and Best Practices for Ukraine’ and was created by the international expert group Bring Kids Back UA. Its purpose is to provide recommendations for restoring the identity, psychological state and social adaptation of children who have returned to Ukraine after a long stay in a hostile environment.
The importance of this book was emphasised by the Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, who noted that it serves as a kind of roadmap for the state. According to him, Ukrainian children have become victims of grave war crimes – they have been separated from their families, taken from their homes and forced to forget their own culture, language and history. According to Yermak, the White Paper is intended to help in the process of restoring the rights and national identity of these children, as it contains effective mechanisms for their support and reintegration.
In addition to psychological and social aspects, the book also takes into account international standards for the protection of children’s rights. It details best practices from other countries that have faced similar challenges and provides concrete advice on how the state and society can ensure the reintegration of children. These recommendations include creating conditions for the restoration of cultural identity, providing psychological support and promoting social adaptation in schools, communities and families.
The book will be presented during the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula, which will take place on 30-31 October in Montreal. Participants will include foreign ministers of Ukraine’s partner countries, experts from international and civil society organisations. The discussion of the White Paper will be an important step towards developing joint solutions for the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilians and children illegally taken to Russia. This event will also contribute to further consolidation of international support for Ukraine in protecting children’s rights and ensuring justice for war victims.
As a reminder, the first White Paper was presented in August this year, and it also had a great response. It is entitled ‘Protecting Children from Forced Displacement and Deportation’ and contains evidence of the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to the territory of the Russian Federation and shows the scale of crimes committed against Ukrainian children. This book was the first step in creating a comprehensive system of protection and support for children affected by forced displacement. Both documents are an integral part of the efforts of the international community and the Ukrainian authorities to protect the youngest citizens from the trauma of war and help them return to peaceful life.
The two White Papers, developed as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, not only draw attention to this painful topic, but also contribute to the preparation of effective measures to protect and rehabilitate children who have been subjected to forced deportations and forced relocations. These books are the result of cooperation between international and Ukrainian experts who are jointly looking for ways to ensure that children have the right to a safe childhood and the opportunity to return to normal life in their home country.
