Debate: EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine
Date: TUESDAY, 5 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Dubravka Šuica
Language: EN

All of us know that children’s rights are human rights, and this is something we have to keep in mind. Every child has the right to grow up in a secure environment, to play, to learn, and to have prospects for a peaceful future. Today, we see children under attack in Ukraine, on our European soil. We see their most basic rights, including the very right to life, brutally denied. Children are trapped in the bomb shelters, caught in crossfire and are braving harsh conditions. Look at Bucha. These harrowing images cannot, and will not, be left unanswered. The perpetrators of these crimes must not go unpunished, and a global response is necessary. Two and a half million children have been forced from their homes and some two million children have crossed the border into the European Union. Many arrive without their parents. I think there are about 100 000 children in Ukrainian institutions, more than half of them with disabilities. It is a top priority for all of us to urgently respond to their needs. On 23 March, the Commission adopted its communication on welcoming those fleeing war in Ukraine, readying Europe to meet their needs. We outlined concrete measures that equip the European Union and Member States to offer these children protection and give them swift access to their rights and services without any discrimination. We are making European Union funding available to support inclusion, foster care, psychosocial support and counselling. Unaccompanied minors, and separated and orphaned children are at high risk of abuse and exploitation. We are working to obtain sufficient data so that all children are properly registered. My colleague Ylva Johansson will speak in more detail about this later on. Legal guardians must be assigned as quickly as possible. Potential foster families should be vetted so that the children do not end up in abusive households. Our Member States’ national offices for children, child protection services and the Ombudsman are mobilised. I can confirm that national coordinators of the European Child Guarantee are now operational. They will play an important role in providing access to key services. We have established a solidarity platform for Member States. This will help ensure effective coordination and cooperation. We recently launched the European Union Network for Children’s Rights, which will strengthen the coordination among child rights actors and help us identify further needs. Education is key. We support our Member States to help children return to school to regain a sense of normality. Integration into national childcare and school systems will be accompanied by psychosocial support, and culture and sport activities to help overcome trauma, language and cultural barriers. The Commission’s School Education Gateway will serve as a one—stop shop to link educational material from Ukraine to Member States’ material in the Ukrainian language. We will also draw on the capacities of Ukrainian teachers among the new arrivals in the European Union. Upon arrival, healthcare is crucial. Children will need psychosocial care. Many will have missed out on proper nutrition. Standard paediatric vaccinations will be prioritised and the Commission is supporting the supply of vaccines through HERA. Inside Ukraine, genuine humanitarian corridors must be established to evacuate the most vulnerable. We are providing substantial humanitarian aid, working with our international partners and in coordination with the Ukrainian authorities to ensure humanitarian aid reaches its destination and that children can receive protection. This war will mark the children of Ukraine for life. We will not leave a stone unturned to ensure that they will be well cared for, that they can recover and be a child again. This is not only a job. It is our collective responsibility and a human imperative.