- Target:
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), International Criminal Court (ICC), Regional Center
- Region:
- GLOBAL
- Website:
- childrenofwar.gov.ua
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, including the unlawful abduction and deportation of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. This heinous act, classified as a war crime under the statutes of the International Criminal Court (ICC), deprives children of their identities, families, and rights.
Since the invasion began, numerous reports have revealed the systematic removal of children from occupied Ukrainian territories, many of whom have been subjected to forced assimilation and illegal adoptions. Despite international condemnation, Russia continues to deny wrongdoing and has refused to disclose the locations of these children.
Efforts to trace and repatriate the missing children have been severely hindered by the recent defunding of Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), a leading organization in tracking abducted children through advanced open-source technology. The HRL's contributions, including the use of satellite imagery and digital forensics, have been instrumental in locating the children and advocating for justice at global forums.
Urgent action is needed to hold Russia accountable, ensure the safe return of these children, and uphold international law. This petition calls upon the global community to intensify efforts to locate and repatriate the abducted Ukrainian children and to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.
We, the undersigned, call upon the international community to take immediate and decisive action to locate and return the tens of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted and trafficked to Russia during the ongoing conflict. These children have been forcibly removed from their homeland, subjected to Russification, and denied their fundamental rights to identity, family, and safety.
The forcible abduction and deportation of children is a war crime under the statutes of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, for their roles in these heinous acts. Despite this, Russia continues to deny wrongdoing and refuses to disclose the locations of these children.
The recent defunding of Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which has been instrumental in tracking the missing children using open-source technology, is a catastrophic blow to efforts to bring these children home. The HRL's work has been vital in gathering evidence, raising awareness, and advocating for justice at international forums, including the United Nations Security Council.
We demand the following actions:
Immediate reinstatement of funding for research and tracking initiatives like the HRL to ensure the continued search for abducted children.
Increased international pressure on Russia to disclose the locations of all abducted Ukrainian children and facilitate their safe return.
Accountability for those responsible for these war crimes, including the enforcement of ICC arrest warrants.
The world cannot stand idly by as these children are stripped of their identities, families, and futures. We urge governments, international organizations, and individuals to join us in demanding justice and the safe return of these children to their homeland.
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The Demand Accountability for the Abduction of Ukrainian Children by Russia petition to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), International Criminal Court (ICC), Regional Center was written by Susan Diblasio and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.