Ursula von der Leyen: ”Child abduction is a tragedy for all of humanity”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced the allocation of around €200 million to provide schoolchildren in Ukraine with hot lunches. She announced during the conference “Restore Childhood and Humanity – Advancing Peace in Ukraine through the Return of Ukrainian Children”, held as part of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
Von der Leyen noted that this measure is part of the support for Ukraine. “We will act until the children of Ukraine return home. Our responsibility extends to all those who remain captive in foreign lands,” she stressed.
In addition, the EU is funding the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office so that families can observe the restoration of justice. Together with UNICEF, the European Union is allocating over €10 million for rehabilitation programs for returned children, so that they can recover, learn, and dream again.
The EU has already sanctioned more than 50 individuals involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children. As part of these measures, the European Union is joining the International Coalition for the Return of Children and is preparing a high-level summit to raise the issue on the global agenda.
Von der Leyen stressed that every abduction of a child is a loss not only for Ukraine but for the whole world, and stressed the need to return them home. She also noted that more than 1.5 million Ukrainian children remain in the temporarily occupied territories, where they are subjected to forced Russification. She described this as a serious war crime and an attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, at least 19,500 children have been illegally taken away since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression, although the exact number remains unknown. Ukraine has managed to return 1,625 children.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova on suspicion of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
