Ukraine: UN committee urges end to killings of children
04 March 2022
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GENEVA (4 March 2022) – With at least 19 children killed and 31 injured in the armed conflicts during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the past few days, the UN Child Rights Committee today demanded the Russian Federation to immediately cease its aggression and military actions and uphold its obligations to protect children from physical and psychological violence. The Committee issued the following statement:
“Children in Ukraine are currently subject to extreme suffering and trauma. They are being killed and injured. They are separated from their families. Homes are being destroyed. Their education is interrupted. There are reports of schools, orphanages and hospitals being attacked. Their daily lives and routines have been utterly shattered. As a consequence of the military attack on Ukraine, children are exposed to extreme violence and experience unbearable levels of fear and anxiety.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines the children’s rights to life, survival and development and the whole range of rights to water, food, housing, health, education and freedom from all forms of violence. Children are entitled to care, assistance and protection at all times. Unfortunately, history has shown many times over that children are among the most affected in situations of armed conflict.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child is deeply disturbed by the fact that grave violations of children’s rights in Ukraine are being committed by the Russian Federation’s aggression and military attack in Ukraine, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations. According to the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, between 4am on 24 February and midnight on 3 March, the deaths of at least 19 children and injuries of 31 children were recorded. Children will suffer from profound, long-lasting physical, psychological, emotional and traumatic consequences.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child demands that the Russian Federation immediately ceases aggression and military actions against Ukraine and that it upholds its obligations under the Convention as espoused by the United Nations Secretary-General to enforce the United Nations Charter to protect children’s rights to the utmost degree and as the highest priority.”
For more information and media requests in Geneva, please contact: Vivian Kwok at +41 (0) 22 917 9362 / [email protected] or UN Human Rights Office Media Section at +41 (0) 22 928 9855 / [email protected]