On 4 April, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa held a meeting with representatives of the civil society organizations Save Ukraine and Ukrainian Child Rights Network.

The main topic of the meeting was the exchange of views on joint activities aimed at protecting the rights of Ukrainian children affected by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.

The participants highlighted the important activities of the Bring Kids Back UA platform initiated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which has already been joined by 41 countries and the Council of Europe.

Mariana Betsa stressed the catastrophic consequences of Russian aggression for Ukrainian children: “The aggressor state continues its criminal practice of forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children, obstructing their return and reunification with their families”, and emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, together with the Office of the President of Ukraine, relevant state bodies, civil society and in cooperation with international partners, are actively working to ensure the return of children.

Mykola Kuleba, Executive Director of Save Ukraine, shared practical cases of children’s return, outlined existing challenges in this area, and stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between government agencies and the non-governmental sector to ensure the prompt return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, their rehabilitation and reintegration.

Anastasia Stepula, Advocacy Advisor of Ukrainian Child Rights Network, highlighted the importance of implementing reintegration mechanisms for children in line with the highest European standards.

Mariana Betsa stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine highly appreciates cooperation with civil society in protecting the rights of the child and will continue to make every possible effort to ensure the return to Ukraine of all children abducted by Russia.

Following the exchange of views, it was agreed to strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and non-governmental organizations.