WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children has once again stressed its commitment to protecting the youngest children affected by the war in Ukraine, citing international humanitarian law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“We, the members of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, reiterate our unwavering commitment to protecting children affected by Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified all-out military invasion of Ukraine,” the statement said.
According to the Coalition, in the context of the war against Ukraine, Russia has illegally deported and forcibly transferred a large number of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories and transferred them to its territory.
“The Russian Federation has unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to its territory and from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as documented by international bodies, including the International Criminal Court. Thousands of these children remain in Russia, far from their families and communities,” the Coalition said.
During a meeting in Istanbul in early June, the Ukrainian authorities handed over to Russia a list of children for whom urgent return is requested. The Coalition sees this step as a significant humanitarian initiative.
“The Government of Ukraine has handed over to the Russian Federation an initial list of 339 Ukrainian children unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation or forcibly transferred from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, with a formal request for their immediate and unconditional return. This represents a crucial humanitarian step and a real opportunity for the Russian Federation to demonstrate goodwill through concrete confidence-building measures,” the statement said.
The Coalition has made four specific demands to the Russian Federation, including an urgent response to the list, providing information about the children, and stopping their identity transformation.
“We call on the Russian Federation to immediately and substantially respond to the initial list of children provided by Ukraine, facilitate the return of all unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred children, provide verifiable information on their location and condition, and cease altering their identity through granting citizenship, placement in Russian families, and other forms of indoctrination,” it stressed.
The Coalition also recalled the devastating data from the UN Secretary-General’s report, which documented record violations of children’s rights in armed conflicts during 2025.
“We note with concern that the UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) for 2025 recorded the highest number of confirmed violations to date,” the Coalition said.
The statement insists that children affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine must remain the focus of international humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.
“The return of Ukrainian children is a key step in this broader imperative to ensure that children are never used as pawns of war. All actions must be guided by the best interests of the child, in accordance with international law,” the Coalition said.
Finally, the Coalition members call for consistent respect for international law, especially when it comes to children’s rights and their protection.
“Respect for international humanitarian and human rights law is a binding obligation for all parties to armed conflict — especially when it comes to protecting children, preserving their identity and dignity, and creating conditions for their safe and voluntary return,” the statement concluded.
