The phenomenon of forced displacement of Ukrainian children is a form of genocide as it is intended to destroy the identity of the Ukrainian people, the director of the Association for Child and Family Empowerment "AVE Copiii", Mariana Yanakevich, stated in a public debate entitled "What is the fate of Ukrainian children deported to Russia following the Hague Tribunal’s decision?". She noted that the children must be protected amidst the military actions taking place in Ukraine, but not in any case by changing their name, language, culture and identity.
According to official data provided by the Ukrainian authorities, the number of documented cases of forced displacement of Ukrainian children is over 9,000. Since the beginning of the war, more than 1,000 Ukrainian children have been brought back from Russia and reintegrated into Ukrainian society. The director of the Association for Child and Family Empowerment "AVE Children" said that in the case of relocation of children, in order to protect them, as Russia explains its behavior, the change of identity cannot be admitted.
"From what is known, Russia is changing the names of Ukrainian children, changing their identity and language. This cannot be considered aid to the child. All actions aimed at children must be oriented towards the child's interests. The change of the child's identity cannot be admitted because in this way we understand that Ukraine remains childless, and children are the future of each country. Both sides must respect the interests of children, but not based on political interests, but on the basis of the fundamental rights of each child," said Mariana Yanakevich.
According to her, Russia uses the phenomenon of deportation or forced displacement of Ukrainian children to destroy the identity of this people. The forced displacement of children cannot be considered help if one insists on changing the identity, culture and language.
"The phenomenon of forced displacement is analyzed in the context of the phenomenon of genocide, being a component part of it because the goal is the destruction of national identity and culture. There are cases when children from the occupied territories participated in various specialized programs on military and patriotic activities whose purpose is to learn a new language, so that these children change their identity and culture. These things lead to the destruction of the nation. These children will become adults who will participate in the vote. If these children are taught to fight, they will become adults who will use physical force to solve any problem. Forced displacement cannot be considered support for the child. It is normal for these children to be protected in a space where fighting takes place, drones fly, but this must not happen to the detriment of their culture, language and identity," said Mariana Yanakevich.
She explained that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova has effectively managed the refugee crisis. Thousands of Ukrainian children who came unaccompanied to the Republic of Moldova or were separated from their parents benefit from social services.
"The Republic of Moldova helps Ukrainian citizens a lot. The child protection system in the Republic of Moldova reacted well to the wave of Ukrainian refugees. Social assistance representatives worked day and night at the border, together with the Border Police, to help Ukrainian children who entered the Republic of Moldova without being accompanied by their parents or being accompanied by adults who were not their official representatives. Everything possible was done to help these children, to avoid any form of violence or child trafficking," stated Mariana Ianachevici.
The public debate entitled "What is the fate of Ukrainian children deported to Russia following the Hague Tribunal’s decision?" is part of the project "Developing political culture through public debates". IPN Agency carries out this project with support from the German Hanns Seidel Foundation.
