"How is Childhood Possible During War: Children's Rights Amidst Russia’s Armed Aggression"

April – June 2022: Participation in the Organization and Implementation of the International Conference "How is Childhood Possible During War: Children's Rights Amidst Russia’s Armed Aggression"

From April to June 2022, preparations and implementation of the International Conference "How is Childhood Possible During War: Children's Rights Amidst Russia’s Armed Aggression" took place. The conference aimed to discuss the legal and political aspects of the tragic events in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It also explored mechanisms for protecting children's rights and strategies for creating a safer world for them during war.

Conference Details

On June 1, 2022, the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation, in cooperation with the NGO "Center for Political Narratives of Democracy" and the Consulate General of Romania in Chernivtsi, organized the International Conference "How is Childhood Possible During War: Children's Rights Amidst Russia’s Armed Aggression" in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.

• Participants from Chernivtsi attended offline
• International participants and experts from other Ukrainian cities joined online

Relevance of the Conference

By May 2022, due to Russia’s invasion:

• 243 children had been killed
• 444 children had been injured
• More than 223,000 children had left Ukraine
• Many children who remained in Ukraine were forced to live in basements and bomb shelters, constantly facing danger, fear, and traumatic losses

The urgent task was to create a safe environment for these children and ensure their development despite the war.

Local authorities, educators, cultural institutions, and healthcare professionals worked to support children displaced from war-affected regions to western Ukraine. Additionally, neighboring countries like Moldova, Poland, and Romania played a crucial role in providing shelter, medical aid, and social support for Ukrainian families with children.

Key Topics and Participants

Experts from Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania discussed mechanisms for protecting children's rights during war.

The conference was moderated by Serhiy Hakman, Vice President of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation. Active participants included:

• Olena Tanasiichuk – President of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation
• Nataliya Nechayeva-Yuriychuk – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Key Highlights

• Creative Video Installation – "Our Contribution to Ukraine’s Victory," created by students of Chernivtsi Lyceum No. 11 "Prestige"
• Presentation of the Anti-War Children's Book – "Kolobok: A Modern Kharkiv Fairy Tale" by Natalia Kukonina and artist Raisa Ryazanova

Opening Remarks

Welcoming speeches were delivered by:

• Lyudmyla Marchenko, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
• Mykola Myroslav Petretskyi, Member of the Romanian Parliament, Chairman of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania
• Liliana Grosu, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
• Dan Nicolae Constantin, Senior Advisor-Envoy at the Consulate General of Romania in Chernivtsi

Expert Panel Discussion on Children's Rights Protection

Participants included:

• Olena Tanasiichuk – President of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation, Program Director of the Eleos-Ukraine Charitable Foundation
• Svitlana Bostan – Director of the Chernivtsi Regional Center for Social Services
• Yuriy Hordiienko – President of the NGO "International Academy for Human Rights Protection," human rights activist
• Mircea Petriuc – Director of the Suceava branch of the NGO "Save the Children," Romania
• Nataliya Nechayeva-Yuriychuk – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Conclusion

The International Conference "How is Childhood Possible During War: Children's Rights Amidst Russia’s Armed Aggression" provided a vital platform for discussing urgent challenges faced by children during war. It emphasized the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the protection, support, and development of children affected by war and highlighted the significant role of Ukraine’s neighboring countries in assisting Ukrainian refugee families.