Thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred and deported by the Russian Federation since 2014. It is a deliberate attack on Ukraine’s future. Those children that must live on the Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia, cannot express themselves as Ukrainians. Instead, the Kremlin’s indoctrination policies aim to make them “little Russians”. The goal of this act of genocide is to wipe the children’s memories, including their families, nationality, and life before the occupation. This nurtures a hostile attitude towards everything Ukrainians. Many of those taken to Russia, are given a new identity.
This Conference aims to address the question of forceful illegal deportation of Ukrainian children and to present the findings and recommendations of a new Paper completed by the Bring Kids Back Initiative of the Office of President Zelenskiy. The topic is urgent and needs rapid action, as every day there is a risk of more children being lost to the Russian aggressor.
The conference will be followed by the opening of the photo exhibition "Lost Childhood" at 12.00 CET. It will take place at the Info Hub in the European Parliament (entrance from the Esplanade Solidarność 1980).
Participation is open to EPC members, the media, EU officials, invitations of the Ukrainian Mission to the EU and the Office of the President of Ukraine