Screening of the documentary “Abducted Childhood” followed by a discussion with the participation of Ukrainian Children abducted by Russia took place at Instituto Cervantes in Prague.
The screening was hosted by the Ambassador of Spain to the Czech Republic, H.E. Ms. Maria PEREZ SANCHEZ-LAULHE.
Welcome speech by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Vasyl ZVARYCH, and the Director of the Cervantes Institute in Prague, Mr. Gonzales MANGLANO de GARAY and Tomáš Kopečný, Czech Governmental Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine
“Abducted Childhood” documentary tells the stories of Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia. This is a study of the current situation and the evidence base regarding the forced deportation and abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In the documentary, children and their parents told their own stories. Ukrainian children were in captivity, some of them were forcibly taken to the so-called health camps in Russia, some were separated from their parents during the filtering measures.
The “Abducted Childhood” documents children’s testimonies about Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian people.
Online.ua Production Team together with International Human Rights Commission as the Worldwide Promotion Partner present this documentary with the participation and support of:
- Daria Herasymchuk, Сommissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, “The Children of War” platform Coordinator
- Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
- Dmytro Lubinets, The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman)
- Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management
- Olena Vykhor, Head of Secretariat Management of the Ombudsman
- Dmytro Kaplun, Head of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
- Sergiy Nizhynskyi, Deputy Minister of Social Policy for European Integration (2019-2020), Advisor to Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, CEO of NGO “UA Experts”
- Scientific and Practical Center for Neuropsychology and Psychosomatics of the Deva Clinique
- Public organization “Save Ukraine”
- The Human Rights Centre ZMINA
Russia pursues en mass unlawful transfers and deportations of Ukrainian children. Ukrainian authorities have identified 19,546 cases of deported Ukrainian children, with only 388 successfully repatriated and reunited with their families thus far.
Arrest warrants were issued by the ICC against President Putin and Commissioner for Children Rights Ms. Lvova-Belova on 17 March 2023, indicating their alleged responsibility for war crimes involving the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation. The transfer of children from areas under Russian military control, including those forcibly separated from parents and removed from schools without guardian consent, has been documented by OHCHR, the Commission of Inquiry, and HRMMU.
The actions of the Russian authorities, such as the simplified process of granting Russian citizenship to Ukrainian children, streamlined adoption procedures, and re-education, indicate a non-will to return these children as well as a planned effort to erase their Ukrainian identity. Such findings underscore the gravity of the situation and emphasize the urgent need for decisive action to address this flagrant violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
The film screening and the subsequent discussion featuring the returned children are conducted as part of the “Stolen Voices” campaign, which is an integral part of the Bring Kids Back UA action plan. The campaign’s goal is to protect Ukrainian children and their rights, cease deportation and forced displacement, prevent the coercive transfer of Ukrainian children to Russian families, and take all necessary measures for the safe return and reunification of families in accordance with the interests of the child and international law.
The world must know the truth and do everything possible to hold Russian criminals accountable.
Bring our Children Back Home!