皇冠体育app

Mr Chairperson, I am delivering this statement on behalf of 45 participating States: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, T眉rkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union member states.

Being gravely concerned by the continuing impacts of Russia鈥檚 ongoing aggression against Ukraine, in particular on the civilian population, including children, our delegations invoked the Moscow Mechanism on 30 March 2023. We requested ODIHR to inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a mission of experts to 鈥榚stablish the facts and circumstances surrounding:

• possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments
• violations and abuses of human rights, and violations of International Humanitarian Law and international human rights law
• as well as possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity

associated with or resulting from the forcible transfer of children within parts of Ukraine鈥檚 territory temporarily controlled or occupied by Russia and/or their deportation to the Russian Federation.鈥�

We are very grateful to the rapporteurs, Professor Bilkova, Dr Hellestveit and Dr 艩teinerte, for producing such a thorough and professional report. While we are still reviewing the report in detail, it is clear that the mission鈥檚 findings confirmed our serious cause for concern.

皇冠体育app report states that while the Mission has not been able to establish the exact number of deported or transferred children, 鈥榠t is clear that these numbers are measured in several thousands鈥�. 皇冠体育app total number may be much higher still, as 鈥榖oth the Russian Federation and Ukraine indicate figures amounting to hundreds of thousands of children鈥�.

Further, the report states 鈥榥on-consensual evacuations, transfers and prolonged displacement of Ukrainian children constitute violations of International Humanitarian Law, and in certain cases amount to grave breaches of the Geneva Convention IV and war crimes鈥�. 皇冠体育app rapporteurs are of the understanding that 鈥榠t is common procedure to separate parents and children at filtration points鈥� that have been 鈥榚stablished by the Russian occupational authorities鈥�, a practice that we are particularly appalled by.

皇冠体育app Mission states that it 鈥榟as been able to establish with certainty that by and large the deportation of children cannot be qualified as voluntary鈥�. Worryingly, the rapporteurs concluded that 鈥榯he practice of the forcible transfer and/or deportation of Ukrainian children to the temporarily occupied territories and to the territory of the Russian Federation may amount to a crime against humanity鈥�.

What is more, the Mission found that 鈥榥umerous and overlapping violations of the rights of the children deported to the Russian Federation have taken place鈥�, including denying 鈥榯heir right to identity, their right to family, their right to unite with their family鈥�. 皇冠体育app rapporteurs conclude that Russia has 鈥榤anifestly violated the best interests of these children repeatedly鈥�.

Finally, the Mission states that far from adhering to its obligation under International Humanitarian Law to facilitate the return of children, Russia 鈥榗reates various obstacles for families seeking to get their children back鈥�. This constitutes 鈥榓 violation of the Geneva Conventions that exacerbates the gravity of other violations鈥�.

Mr Chairperson, OSCE participating States have committed 鈥榯o actively promote children鈥檚 rights and interests, especially in conflict and post-conflict situations鈥� (). Children are among the most vulnerable in times of war and require special attention and safeguarding. It is clear from the report that Ukrainian children have been left without this safeguarding. To the Russian Federation, we would like to highlight the following recommendations from the report:

• to immediately cease the practices of forcible transfer of Ukraine鈥檚 children within temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and/or their forcible deportation to the Russian Federation
• without delay provide comprehensive lists of the names and whereabouts of all children who have been forcibly transferred or deported
• establish appropriate procedures for and actively assist family reunifications of all children who have been forcibly transferred or deported from Ukraine
• immediately cease the current practice of expedited admission into the Russian citizenship of Ukrainians, especially children

We, the invoking states, take note of the Mission鈥檚 recommendation to other states and the international community and encourage all other participating States to do the same. Recommendations include supporting Ukraine to locate children who have been forcibly transferred or deported, with a view to enable their return.

Mr Chairperson, this report is clear. Russia must return the children of Ukraine, to Ukraine, now.