South Africa steps up as mediator in efforts to bring back Ukrainian children from Russia

The Republic of South Africa has expressed its readiness to assume the role of a mediator in the return of Ukrainian children deported by the Russians. It has joined the efforts of the Vatican and Qatar.

The press service of the Office of the President reports that.

On November 20, a conference was held in Pretoria (South Africa) dedicated to the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported to the Russian Federation and forcibly displaced from temporarily occupied territories.

"The deportation of Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity that requires an immediate global response. We are grateful to South Africa for its role in supporting our initiative and its readiness to be a mediator.

Together, we will be able to restore justice and return our children home," Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and Operational Director of Bring Kids Back UA, said.

She also emphasized the role of South Africa as a potential mediator in the return of children, complementing the efforts of the Vatican and Qatar.

South Africa confirmed this readiness during the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula, which took place in late October in Montreal.

The event paid special attention to South Africa's historical experience in the field of human rights. Panelists discussed how this experience can become the basis for supporting global advocacy for children's rights.

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Ever since the start of the extensive Russian aggression, the enemy military has been transferring Ukrainian children to camps located in the Russian Federation and territories under their control. Ukraine has compiled a map of these camps.

As reported by Ombudsman Lubinets, the deportation of over 19,500 Ukrainian children has been officially confirmed.

Additionally, on January 4, the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, signed an order allowing Ukrainian children to receive Russian citizenship. Citizenship will be granted so that deported Ukrainian children "will not legally remain in the Russian Federation."

So far, Ukraine has been able to return 1,002 children from Russia and the temporarily occupied territories. Almost 20,000 children remain there.