The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) has launched an investigation into the forcible transfer of children within parts of Ukraine that are currently under temporary control by Russia. Reports indicate that thousands of Ukrainian children, including those from residential institutions and children's camps, may be in Russian custody without proper legal procedures. Russian officials have been accused of lying to Ukrainian children, telling them that their parents have abandoned them. Human Rights Watch has documented cases where Russian-proxy authorities prevented the evacuation of Ukrainian children to Ukrainian-held territory and instead sent them to Russian-controlled areas. Russian officials have also stated that hundreds of Ukrainian children have been placed in Russian families and assigned Russian nationality, which violates international law.

The OSCE expert investigators will gather information and formulate recommendations based on their findings. The information collected may be used in future proceedings by courts and tribunals. On March 17, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and the Russian government's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the war crimes of unlawful transfer and deportation of children.

Russian officials have dismissed the ICC case and portrayed the transfers of children as "evacuations," while not granting safe passage to areas under Ukrainian government control. Ukrainian authorities have received nearly 20,000 complaints of missing children, but there is currently no system in place to verify and consolidate these cases. Human Rights Watch and civil society groups have called on the United Nations to increase efforts to locate missing children and ensure their safe return.

The OSCE experts' report is expected to be released three weeks after their mission this month. Urgent action is needed to halt the forcible transfer of children and reunite missing children with their families.

Introduction:

The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) has initiated an investigation into the forcible transfer of children within parts of Ukraine that are temporarily controlled by Russia. Reports have emerged that Ukrainian children, including those from residential institutions and children's camps, may be in Russian custody without proper legal procedures. This report aims to provide an overview of the situation and highlight the urgent need for action to stop the forcible transfer of children and ensure their safe return to their families.

Background:

The conflict in Ukraine, particularly in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, has resulted in widespread human rights abuses, including the forcible transfer of children. The OSCE has been monitoring the situation in Ukraine since 2014 and has expressed concern about the impact of the conflict on the rights of children. Reports have emerged of Ukrainian children being forcibly transferred to Russian-controlled areas, where they may face separation from their families and other violations of their rights.

Reports of Forcible Transfer of Children:

According to reports, thousands of Ukrainian children may be in Russian hands, including children from residential institutions that fell under Russian occupation, and children who were sent to Russian children's camps but not returned. Russian personnel have reportedly lied to some Ukrainian children, telling them that their parents have abandoned them. Human Rights Watch has documented cases where Russian-proxy authorities prevented the evacuation of 17 Ukrainian children from an institution in Mariupol to Ukrainian-held territory, and instead sent them to Russian-controlled areas. Ukrainian doctors and institution directors have resorted to hiding children to prevent their removal.

Russian officials have stated that hundreds of Ukrainian children have been placed in Russian families and assigned Russian nationality, even though this violates international law. These actions have been widely criticized by the international community and have led to the issuance of arrest warrants by the ICC against Russian President Putin and the Russian government's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the war crimes of unlawful transfer and