A Ukrainian delegation headed by Daria Gerasymchuk, Advisor to the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation, visited Ireland to strengthen cooperation to return Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia. This was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine, UNN reports.
Details
The visit was part of the Stolen Voices information campaign, which is part of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
Darya Gerasymchuk met with representatives of the Irish government, in particular with the Director of the European Neighborhood Division of the Political Department of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dervla Doyle, and the Director of the International and EU Affairs Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, Ronan Gargan.
Ukrainian children are witnesses to the crimes against humanity that Russia is trying to hide. Russians are kidnapping our children and trying to make them "Russian" by changing their names, identities and native language. We will not stop until every child returns home. We are grateful to Ireland for their support and willingness to join forces in this important cause
The Institute of International and European Affairs also hosted a panel discussion on the return of abducted Ukrainian children and the reintegration of those who were returned home.
Kira and Oleksandr, children who came with the Ukrainian delegation, spoke about their experiences. They are both from Mariupol. The girl's father was killed by the Russian occupiers, and the boy's mother disappeared after the filtration camp. The children were kidnapped and taken to a Donetsk hospital.
In addition, in Ireland, the Ukrainian delegation presented the documentary Stolen Childhood, about the real-life stories of children who were taken by Russia.
The visit was organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Ukraine with the support of the Embassy of Canada in Ireland.
Recall
From the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine 8 children aged 6 to 16 years were returned. Seven children returned with the help of Qatar, and one returned through the humanitarian corridor.