Bring Kids Back UA releases second White Paper on Ukrainian children’s return

Ukraine has unveiled its second White Paper, entitled "Reintegration of Children Surviving Deportation and Forced Displacement: International Standards and Best Practices for Ukraine," which was compiled by experts from the Bring Kids Back UA International Expert Group.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Yermak reported this on Telegram.

According to him, this document is a logical continuation of the first White Paper, which focused on returning Ukrainian children home.

The second White Paper addresses the critical reintegration phase, illustrating that the return of children is only the first step.

"Our children have been victims of Russia's horrific war crimes – taken from their homes, separated from their families, trying to erase their identity, destroy their culture and language. This White Paper is vital because it provides a comprehensive road map for how we, as a nation, can support them and restore their rights," the head of the president's office said.

The White Paper offers tangible, practical advice on how Ukrainians can assist their returning children in:

– recovering fully;

– reclaiming their identity;

– fully integrating into Ukrainian society.

It emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts between government institutions, civil society, and international partners to meet their physical, emotional, and social needs.

In particular, the developments of the White Paper will be discussed on the world stage during the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula, which will be held in Montreal on October 30-31.

This important event will bring together foreign ministers of Ukraine's partner countries and experts from international and non-governmental organizations to develop specific decisions and actions regarding the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians, and deported children.

"This is part of a larger global effort to restore justice. We are working to return every abducted child, hold Russia accountable for its war crimes, and build a new, better future for our children," Yermak emphasized.

For reference:

On August 27, 2024, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, participated in the presentation of the White Book "Protection of Children from Forced Displacement and Deportation." This is the first document the Bring Kids Back UA International Expert Group developed.

The White Paper was developed with the support of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation.

Since the start of full-scale aggression, the Russian military forces have been taking Ukrainian children to Russia and territories under their control. Ukrainian activists created a map of camps where children are being sent to after abductions.

As reported, Russian occupiers are intensifying the forced imposition of Russian aggressive ideology on the occupied territories of Ukraine.

The national resistance also reported that Russian occupiers detained children to pressure their parents.

As of August 2024, 19,546 deported and forcibly displaced children have been identified. The study "(Non)return of children: Ukraine facing the biggest challenge since independence" is an analysis of what happens to deported children in Russia, how they are returned, and what algorithms the state should develop.

Representatives of Canada proposed creating a coalition of countries to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children deported by the aggressor country.

Japan joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

Also, the United States of America officially became a member state of the coalition, which advocates for the safe return to Ukraine of children illegally deported and displaced by the Russian Federation during the war.

It should be added that the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children already includes 37 countries, and recently, Argentina also joined it.