The United Nations Secretary-General has once again included the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups in its annual "list of shame" for grave violations against children in armed conflicts.
The 2023 report by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, underscores the gravity of these violations. He wrote in his report that he is “concerned by the levels of the verified cases of abduction of children and by continued reports of transfers of children by the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups and Russian authorities located in territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation,” and he “urge the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups and Russian authorities located in territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and to exchange information with the United Nations on all affected children”. He is “gravely concerned by the introduction in the Russian Federation of a simplified procedure to apply for Russian citizenship for orphaned children and children without parental care”. He “urged the Russian Federation to ensure that no changes are made to the personal status of Ukrainian children, including their nationality”. He “strongly urged the Russian Federation to cooperate with the United Nations for the return of Ukrainian children and reunification of such children with their families and/or guardians.”
The "list of shame," officially known as the annex to the Secretary-General António Guterres's annual report on children and armed conflict, identifies parties responsible for grave violations against children.
The repeated inclusion of Russia in the UN's "list of shame" highlights the urgent need for global action. The international community must support efforts to return abducted Ukrainian children and ensure their safety and rehabilitation.