On November 18, the MFA of Ukraine, together with the Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, UNICEF, and with the participation of children who are members of the movement "Children – Ambassadors of Peace" organized a joint event on the occasion of World Children's Day.
In her speech at the opening of the event, Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa informed about the measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to consolidate international support for Ukraine in the field of children's rights in the extremely difficult conditions of Russian aggression.
“The ongoing genocidal war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine on a daily basis not only deprives children of basic conditions for safety and development, but also constantly threatens their health and lives. Russia continues to deport Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Together with our international partners, we are doing everything necessary to protect Ukraine's youngest citizens, provide them with adequate living and development conditions, and return those who have been deported home as soon as possible", the Deputy Minister emphasized.
Mariana Betsa paid particular attention to the issues of expanding support by international partners for projects within the framework of the President of Ukraine initiative "Bring Kids Back UA" and further deepening cooperation within the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
Mariana Betsa emphasized the importance of adopting the UN General Assembly resolution initiated by Ukraine on the return of Ukrainian children from the Russian Federation.
Daria Herasymchuk, the Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, drew attention to the importance of coordinating activities aimed at ensuring the well-being of children. She emphasized the importance and symbolism of children's participation in the event, because the world needs to hear the voices of Ukrainian children who suffer daily from the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. On World Children's Day, children around the world talk about their lives, their hopes, and their rights, while adults have the power and authority to make changes every day.
Daria Herasymchuk called on the participants to join forces and strengthen cooperation in order to make changes in the lives of Ukrainian children.
Head of UNICEF's office in Ukraine Munir Mammadzade noted that children's rights can't be put off "until later" because of the war. "We're working side by side with our national partners and the international community to help protect and exercise these rights. This is our shared responsibility to every child, whose rights are the foundation of everyday life. Children are drivers of change, but they should not suffer from the consequences of adults' wrong decisions", added Munir Mammadzade.
In her speech, Tetiana Sybiha, the leader of the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats, informed about the charity and humanitarian initiatives the association is doing to support and protect Ukrainian kids who've been affected by Russia's aggression. Tetiana Sybiha emphasized how important it is to have international advocacy with Ukrainian kids involved.
Participants in the event noted the consistent and comprehensive support that UNICEF has provided to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation. To date, UNICEF's total financial assistance has reached US $1.3 billion. Thanks to the implementation of joint programs, children and families in the affected regions have access to education, medical services, psychosocial support, water supply, and heating.
A special element of the event was a sincere and meaningful conversation between children participating in the "Children – Ambassadors of Peace" movement and Ukrainian and foreign diplomats, initiated by Daria Herasymchuk, the Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation. The children shared their thoughts on protecting children's rights during war, their own stories, and initiatives. The diplomats, in turn, noted the children's awareness and emphasized the importance of involving young people in shaping a culture of peace and supporting one another.
The event demonstrated the joint efforts of Ukraine and the UN system to raise international awareness of children's rights violations in the context of Russian armed aggression and to ensure the continuity of critically important programs for children and families.