The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a resolution on the situation of children of Ukraine, member of the permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada to PACE Yevhenia Kravchuk (Servant of the People faction) said.

"PACE unanimously adopted a resolution on the situation of children of Ukraine – 85 affirmative votes. Compared to Resolution 2495 (2023), which the Assembly adopted last April, today's document contains additional provisions for the protection of Ukrainian children. It is important that the document restored the provision that the deportation of children of Ukraine constitutes war crimes, crimes against humanity and contains signs of genocide," the parliamentarian wrote on her Facebook page on Thursday.

The document pays special attention to the support of internally displaced persons (IDPs): the Assembly calls on Member States to strengthen political support and support for humanitarian organizations to protect internally displaced children.

The resolution also supported the initiative Bring Kids Back UA and the creation of an International coalition of countries for the return of Ukrainian children, and also welcomed the creation of the Center for the Protection of Children's Rights, which works under the supervision of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights.

In the adopted resolution, PACE called for the adoption of statements and/or resolutions at the level of national parliaments recognizing deportations, forced displacement and unjustified delays in the repatriation of Ukrainian children as a crime of genocide.

At the same time, it calls on member countries to inform the competent authorities of Ukraine about the crossing of the border by Russian citizens who illegally adopted or established guardianship over a Ukrainian child, to introduce and ensure further compliance with sanctions against the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, as well as to include in the sanctions lists persons involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

PACE also called for evaluating the participation of media representatives in propaganda campaigns organized by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus regarding deported Ukrainian children, in order to apply appropriate measures, for example, refusal of accreditation and admission to public events.

In addition, the Assembly will strengthen cooperation by creating an ad hoc committee that will allow parliamentarians to contribute to improving the situation of children in Ukraine, wherever they are.