Historic Symposium Convenes in Pretoria

PRETORIA – South African and Ukrainian experts gathered in Pretoria today to mark 1,000 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The symposium, under the banner of the global Bring Kids Back UA initiative, focused on the plight of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia.

The event commenced with a prayer session outside the Union Buildings, beneath the statue of Nelson Mandela. His words, “we owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear,” set the tone for the day’s discussions.

Spotlight on Abducted Children

The symposium highlighted the estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred to Russia since 2014—a crisis exacerbated by the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, citing these deportations. These warrants marked an unprecedented move against a UN Security Council permanent member.

South Africa’s Mediation Role

South Africa, alongside the Vatican and Qatar, has taken on a mediation role to facilitate the return of the abducted children. Speaking at the event, Ukraine’s Ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, called on Russia to adhere to the Geneva Convention and release a list of the abducted children. “These actions represent a deliberate ethnic-cleansing campaign,” she stated.

Expert Contributions Highlight Global Responsibility

Darya Zarivna, advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasised the global implications of this crisis, noting that it violated principles affirmed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Prominent South African human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka urged her country to leverage its historical struggle against apartheid to act decisively. “Our history compels us to act when we see systematic human rights violations,” she remarked.

Dr Elvis Fokalo, from the University of Pretoria, echoed these sentiments, stressing South Africa’s potential to lead diplomatic efforts. “There is the political war, but my interest is the war on children. South Africa must show more intentional diplomacy,” he said.

Tracing, Reuniting, and Reintegration Efforts

Efforts to return abducted children are complex. Anthony Triolo, Senior Transitional Justice Officer at the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, presented evidence of human rights violations and recommendations for global action. He urged international missions to trace the children, ensure access to their locations, and reintegrate them into their families.

Maksym Maksymov, from Bring Kids Back UA, outlined the initiative’s progress. Despite the enormity of the crisis, only a few hundred children have been reunited with their families. Maksymov acknowledged South Africa’s commitment as a mediator and collaborator with countries such as Lithuania, Qatar, Estonia, and Canada in securing safe transit and gathering critical information.

A Call to Action

Ambassador Abravitova concluded by urging the global community to support the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. “Your voice matters. Help us bring our children back,” she implored.

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Organisation: Bring Kids Back UA

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South Africa Highlights Ukraine's Abducted Children
A powerful symposium in Pretoria marks 1,000 days since the invasion of Ukraine, shining a spotlight on the urgent crisis of abducted children. #UkraineChildren #HumanRights #BringKidsBackUA #SouthAfrica #pressrelease #AfricaNewsroom #bizcommunity #publicrelations #africa #southernafrica #southafrica