OSCE confirmed that Russia committs war crimes against Ukrainian children

The Russians moved a large number of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories to the Russian Federation. This is stated in a new report of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe about the deportation of children from the occupied by Russia territories of Ukraine. OSCE claim that Russia violates the rights of deported children to identity, family, education and access to information, etc.

The mission of OSCE found that the most common “reasons” for the organized movement of children by the Russians from the occupied territories are the so-called evacuation for security reasons, the transfer of children for the purpose of adoption, and temporary stay in the so-called “rest camps”. The report also notes, that the right to rest, leisure, play and participation in cultural life and art, as well as the right to opinion, conscience and religion, the right to health and the right to freedom and integrity are also violated. Ukrainian children are constantly exposed to Russian information campaigns, which are often part of targeted re-education.

The report emphasized that such actions of the Russian Federation as deportation or forced displacement of the population can be recognized as a war crime against humanity.

As noted in the report, Russia is not taking any steps to return Ukrainian children. Russian Federation is creating various obstacles for families which try to get their children back. Russia ignores the obligation to create mechanisms to find where are the Ukrainian children and to facilitate repatriation or family reunification. Ttat is also a violation of humanitarian law.

The report emphasized that such actions of the Russian Federation as deportation or forced displacement of the population can be recognized as a crime against humanity.