FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Children in Ukraine have experienced the devastating consequences of war, with their rights violated in all areas of life, according to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published on Friday.
Deaths, injuries and the permanent separation of families are among the traumatic events that have upended the lives of Ukrainian children in the three years since the start of the full-scale occupation by the Russian Federation, according to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
"The ongoing hostilities and occupation of parts of Ukraine by the Russian Federation have resulted in large-scale human rights violations and caused unimaginable suffering for millions of children. Their rights have been undermined in every aspect of their lives, leaving deep scars, both physical and psychosocial," said High Commissioner Volker Türk.
UNHCR in its report states that between 24 February 2022 and 31 December 2024, 669 children were killed and 1,833 were injured, many of them as a result of the widespread use of weapons and explosives in residential areas. Of these, 521 were killed and 1,529 were injured in Ukrainian-controlled territory, while 148 were killed and 304 were injured in currently occupied territory. The true figures are likely much higher.
Vast areas of Ukraine are now littered with mines and explosive remnants of war, posing long-term risks to the lives and safety of children.
By December 2024, an estimated 737,000 children had been internally displaced by the fighting. Another 1.7 million were refugees, many of them separated from a parent, usually their father.
Children in regions of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation are particularly vulnerable, the report says. Particularly in the months following the occupation, Russian armed forces committed widespread violence against civilians, including children.
At least 200 children were transferred to Russia
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also verified that, in the first year after the occupation, at least 200 children, including many living in institutions, were transferred within the occupied territory or to the Russian Federation - acts that may constitute war crimes. However, without access to the Russian Federation or the occupied territories, UNHCR was unable to fully assess the extent of these transfers.
Following the annexation of four regions of Ukraine in late 2022, in violation of international law, the authorities of the Russian Federation have made comprehensive and profound changes to the laws, institutions, and governance there, directly affecting children and their rights.
They imposed Russian citizenship and the Russian school curriculum, while also restricting all access to Ukrainian-language education. They have prioritized military-patriotic education in schools and youth groups, exposing children to war propaganda. These changes violate international humanitarian law, which obliges the occupying power to protect children, respect their national identity, and preserve the continuity of their education and culture.
According to the report, after three years of uninterrupted hostilities, children's educational attainment has declined, limiting their future educational trajectory and their ability to fully realize their potential, in employment and beyond.
“It is clear that Ukrainian children have endured a wide range of experiences during the war, all with grave consequences – some as refugees in Europe, others as direct victims, under the constant threat of bombing, and many subject to the repressive laws and policies of the Russian authorities in the occupied territories,” said the High Commissioner.
“As our report makes clear, recognizing and addressing violations is essential to ensuring a future where all Ukrainian children can claim their rights, identity and security, free from the lasting consequences of war and occupation,” Turk said.
Lini një Përgjigje