The conference “Russia’s War on Children” brought together Latvian and Ukrainian officials, lawyers, journalists, representatives of advocacy NGOs, diplomats, and other defense, foreign law, and war crimes experts to discuss the possibilities for returning abducted children to Ukraine.

Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, was among the participants, and Ukrainian children who managed to return home from captivity in Russia gave public testimony for the first time. Among other guests and speakers of the Conference were Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of the Republic of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia (1999-2007), Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia (2019-2023), Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation Ukrainian children, Sandra Kalniete, Member of The European Parliament, Roberts Zīle, Vice president of European Parliament, Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Minister of Justice of Latvia.

During the conference were discussed international instruments to return Ukrainian children deported by Russia, investigative journalism, determination of crimes and bringing Russia to justice, as well as political and legal aspects of the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia.

The main goal of the conference is to raise awareness of kidnapped kids by Russia and to aid return. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has forcibly removed 19,546 children from Ukraine according to the State Information Office of Ukraine.

Find out more: www.russiaswaronchildren.org