International Campaign for Ukrainian Children
On April 16, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced the launch of an international campaign called #ChildrenAreNotNegotiable. The initiative aims to draw global attention to at least 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted or forcibly displaced by Russia.
The minister shared this news on social media platform X.
#ChildrenAreNotNegotiable: A Campaign for the Rights of Ukrainian Children
The campaign's launch coincides with Holy Week before Easter. The Foreign Minister noted that many Ukrainian families are unable to reunite during these festive days, as thousands of children remain abducted by Russia, separated from their families and homes.
“Today we are starting the international campaign #ChildrenAreNotNegotiable to remind the world about at least 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly displaced by Russia,” Sybiha emphasized.
He highlighted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has taken systematic steps to undermine Ukrainian identity by abducting children, re-educating them, and placing them in Russian families.
The minister reiterated the urgent need for further investigation into these crimes and for holding all perpetrators accountable.
“A just and lasting peace requires the return of all these Ukrainian children home,” the Foreign Minister stated, urging his colleagues - foreign ministers from around the world - to join the #ChildrenAreNotNegotiable campaign and support the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
How many Ukrainian children has Russia abducted?
Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, stated that Russia continues to commit crimes against Ukrainian children, holding up to 1.6 million minors under its control - either deported or residing in occupied territories.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the illegal deportation of children.
The White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, halted funding for the Yale University Humanitarian Research Laboratory, which assisted in locating Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
