On World Children's Day, a conference on the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia and forcibly displaced under occupation was held in Pretoria, South Africa. The event was part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, launched by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The deportation of Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity that demands an immediate global response. We are grateful to South Africa for their role in supporting our initiative and their willingness to act as a mediator. Together we will be able to restore justice and bring our children home,” said Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President and Chief Operating Officer of Bring Kids Back UA.
She outlined the outcomes of the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula, which took place on October 30-31 in Montreal, Canada. According to her, the Republic of South Africa has expressed its willingness to join the efforts of the Vatican and Qatar, assuming the role of mediator in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children.
Anthony Triolo, Senior Transitional Justice and Government Relations Expert at the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, presented the findings of the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force, including evidence of violations of international law and international humanitarian law regarding the forced displacement and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia. He also highlighted the expert recommendations provided to the international community and stressed the importance of ensuring access to Ukrainian children in Russia for international organizations.
In addition, a separate panel discussion was held to explore South Africa's role as a leader in international advocacy for children's rights, as well as the country's historical experience with human rights issues.
The conference featured video testimonies from Ukrainian children who had been returned home after being displaced by Russia, thanks to the efforts of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.