Ukraine will need at least 55 years if it returns one deported child daily, according to Dmytro Lubinets, the ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for human rights.
He mentioned this during the first meeting of the International Coalition of Countries for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which included 72 representatives from other countries and international organizations. Lubinets reminded that the Russian Federation began deporting Ukrainian children since 2014, initiating the so-called "Train of Hope" programme to justify the kidnappings.
"From that time, it's been almost 10 years! When occupiers kidnapped an 8-year-old child - now it's a young man or woman! And children grow very fast - and Russia takes away from them not only childhood but also family, country, nationality," Lubinets stated.
According to the ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada for human rights, it would take Ukraine more than 55 years if it were to return one unlawfully deported child daily. Meanwhile, the enemy shows images of "rescue," "evacuation," or "recovery." However, things need to be called by their names, as the deportation of children is genocide and a war crime.
During the meeting, Lubinets called for effective actions, including:
- Recognition of Russia's actions as a crime of genocide.
- Issuing new arrest warrants for those guilty of deporting Ukrainian children.
- Providing access to lists of all deported and displaced children.
- Verification and updating of data on deported or displaced children.
- Opening humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of the civilian population.
- Establishing rehabilitation centers for returned children.
