The future of Ukrainian childhood was discussed in the Houses of Parliament
In early October, a Parliamentary roundtable was held in London, organized by the NGO Gen. Ukrainian "Resilience in War: Safeguarding the Mental Health and Education of Ukraine’s Children — The Impact of Russia’s Aggression on Childhood".
The event was held in Committee Room 10 at the Palace of Westminster and focused on how Ukraine is responding to the challenges faced by its children as a result of the war started by Russia. It also emphasized the vital role of international support.
The event was held in Committee Room 10 at the Palace of Westminster and focused on how Ukraine is responding to the challenges faced by its children as a result of the war started by Russia. It also emphasized the vital role of international support.
The roundtable brought together leading political and legal experts, human rights advocates, educators, mental health professionals, and NGOs.
An important guest of the event was Baroness Helena Kennedy, one of the most respected and prominent lawyers in human rights, civil liberties, and child protection in the world.
In her speech, she highlighted numerous violations of humanitarian law, war crimes, and breaches of the Convention on the Rights of the Child committed by russia. However, her greatest concern was the issue of children deported by russia:
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There are special laws about the special care and protection that should be afforded to children in terms of conflict. Unfortunately, that’s not happening in our contemporary world.
And what’s been happening in the Ukraine in relation to these children (author's note — children taken to russia) is particularly shocking because some of the children are very young and it’s going to be very, very difficult for them, for example, to ever be able to give this sort of information that makes it possible to reconnect with families.
If you are only true, you don’t know your mother’s surname or where she lived or what you were at the dressport or roommate or any of those thing.
And what’s been happening in the Ukraine in relation to these children (author's note — children taken to russia) is particularly shocking because some of the children are very young and it’s going to be very, very difficult for them, for example, to ever be able to give this sort of information that makes it possible to reconnect with families.
If you are only true, you don’t know your mother’s surname or where she lived or what you were at the dressport or roommate or any of those thing.
According to Yulia Ioffe, Associate Professor in Law in the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR) at UCL the answer to the problem of child deportation lies in a comprehensive approach:
"It would need to be complemented by economic pressure, sanctions, mediation from third parties to try to deter those (author's note — deported by russia) children".
The participants also talked about the impact of the war on the mental health of the younger generation of Ukrainians.
During the speech, the founder of the NGO Gen. Ukrainian, Oksana Lebedeva, emphasized that at the onset of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was unprepared for this unprecedented level of psychological trauma and faced challenges that no one could have anticipated:
"Ignoring the mental health crisis in war-torn regions only creates cycles of trauma, hate, and extremism. Instead of overlooking this issue, we need to confront it head-on. By understanding the consequences of psychological trauma, we can work toward a global solution — not just for Ukraine, but for the world. Addressing the mental health impacts of war could reduce the psychological roots of future conflicts, terrorism, and hatred", — she pointed out.
During the speech, the founder of the NGO Gen. Ukrainian, Oksana Lebedeva, emphasized that at the onset of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was unprepared for this unprecedented level of psychological trauma and faced challenges that no one could have anticipated:
"Ignoring the mental health crisis in war-torn regions only creates cycles of trauma, hate, and extremism. Instead of overlooking this issue, we need to confront it head-on. By understanding the consequences of psychological trauma, we can work toward a global solution — not just for Ukraine, but for the world. Addressing the mental health impacts of war could reduce the psychological roots of future conflicts, terrorism, and hatred", — she pointed out.
According to Inna Hryhorovych, MBE, Headteacher of St Mary's Ukrainian Schools, all Ukrainian children at school have symptoms of stress disorders:
“I can say, clearly, directly, there isn't a child from Ukraine who wouldn't be impacted by war and who wouldn't be traumatized, some would be directly or indirectly impacted by war, but all of them are suffering trauma. Those who've been displaced are suffering trauma on top of trauma. They've experienced the loss, they experience the trauma of displacement. They're experiencing retraumatization. Our task is to keep them safe”.
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A recent study of 4,500 children in Ternopil reveals that nearly 40% are showing significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
So about clinical cuts, if you think about that number, it’s remarkable, it’s not something that you would predict, we are talking about the region that hasn’t seen large-scale bombings.
These kids have a remarkably high proportion of kids who actually have significant psychiatric symptoms.
So about clinical cuts, if you think about that number, it’s remarkable, it’s not something that you would predict, we are talking about the region that hasn’t seen large-scale bombings.
These kids have a remarkably high proportion of kids who actually have significant psychiatric symptoms.
The importance of talking about children as adults who will make decisions for the future of Ukraine, — emphasized Oleksandra Romantsova, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine; Nobel Peace Prize Co-recipient:
"These children need to know how to run a democratic state. That’s the greatest freedom, and it’s their most fundamental right. That’s why it’s so important for children who have been deported from Ukraine to have all opportunities to reclaim their human rights and citizenship rights, which have been completely taken from them."
The event was held with the support of the NGO UK friends of Ukraine, which provides political, business and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
"These children need to know how to run a democratic state. That’s the greatest freedom, and it’s their most fundamental right. That’s why it’s so important for children who have been deported from Ukraine to have all opportunities to reclaim their human rights and citizenship rights, which have been completely taken from them."
The event was held with the support of the NGO UK friends of Ukraine, which provides political, business and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
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