On Universal Children’s Day, Pretoria (South Africa) hosted a conference focused on the return of Ukrainian children, who have been illegally deported to Russia or forcibly transferred to occupied territories. The event was part of Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
“The deportation of Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity that demands immediate global action. We are grateful to South Africa for its role in supporting our initiative and its willingness to act as a mediator. Together, we can restore justice and bring our children home,” said Daria Zarivna, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President and Operations Director of Bring Kids Back UA.
Maksym Maksymov, Head of Projects for Bring Kids Back UA, presented the outcomes of the Montreal Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula, held on October 30–31. According to this, South Africa expressed readiness to join efforts with the Vatican and Qatar, assuming the role of mediator in the return of Ukrainian children.
Anthony Triolo, Senior Transitional Justice and Government Relations Officer at the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, presented the findings of the "Bring Kids Back UA" Task Force. He highlighted evidence of violations of international law and humanitarian law related to the forced transfers and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia.
Additionally, the conference included a panel discussion highlighting South Africa’s leadership potential in international advocacy for children’s rights and drawing on the country’s historical expertise in human rights issues.
The event also showcased video testimonies of Ukrainian children, brought home through the dedicated efforts of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative after their forced relocation by Russia.