Within the framework of the conference “Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South” the participants visited the Child Rights Protection Center.

The purpose of the event was to inform the participants about the situation with violations of children’s rights as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as to highlight personal stories of children affected by the war.

Iryna Suslova, Representative of the Commissioner for Children, Family, Youth and Sports made the opening remarks and talked about the situation with the violation of children’s rights as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine, starting in 2014. Iryna Suslova also shared the story of children who were forcibly taken by the occupiers to the territory of the Russian Federation, but who managed to return home.

“There are many such stories. Each of the children who survived the occupation and returned home has their own needs. Firstly, our task is to provide them with medical assistance, psychological support, and record all the war crimes that were committed against them,” added Iryna Suslova.

As part of the event, there was also a screening of the short film “What we lost”, which was produced by the children in the framework of the art therapy course from the Foundation “Voices of the Children”. In the film, the children share the losses they experienced because of Russia: their sense of security, trust, connections with people, and their roots.

The participants of the conference had the opportunity to hear touching stories from children who, at their young age, witnessed the horrors of war with their own eyes. In particular, 16-year-old Oleg, who survived 2 months of occupation and infiltration in Mariupol. He shared his personal experiences and memories of the difficult life under occupation, which is still scary to remember.

Natalia Sosnovenko, psychologist of “Voices of the Children” spoke about the long-term consequences of deportation and about the needs of children, which are essential to support the physical and mental health of those who survived the occupation and were illegally deported to the territory of Russia.

Andrii Mikheiev, an international law expert, International Center for Ukrainian Victory, told about the qualification of actions taken by Russian power and military servicemen against Ukrainian children.