Children's Day is, first and foremost, a date that calls on the world not to allow everything that Ukrainian children are now experiencing. And the task of the civilised world is to do everything possible to protect their rights and give them a chance for a bright future. Find out what this day means for Ukraine and how the younger generation of this country suffers from russian aggression

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International Children's Day, celebrated annually on 1 June, is an important date to remind us of the rights and well-being of children around the world. However, for children in Ukraine, this day takes on a special significance against the backdrop of a war that has dramatically changed their lives, and for some, taken them away altogether.

The day was officially added to the Ukrainian calendar in 1998. However, it only became truly significant recently - in early 2022, when a full-scale war broke out in the country.

Before the war, Ukraine, like other civilised nations, tried to provide its children with everything they needed to protect their rights and develop. Millions of children were able to develop in various fields, as the country paid considerable attention to sections and clubs for the younger generation. But 2022 changed everything.

War claims children's lives

According to official data from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine alone, 550 children have been killed and more than 1,300 others have been injured of varying severity since the start of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

As russian missiles chaotically destroy peaceful cities in Ukraine, the number of children's casualties could be much higher.

The main tragedy is deportation

The deportation of Ukrainian children to russia from the occupied territory of Ukraine continues to this day, despite the fact that the UN calls such actions by russians a war crime and the PACE calls them genocide.

Far from home, Ukrainian children are forced to face forced adoption, russification and changes to all their personal data. These children live in alienation from their parents.

According to official data provided by the Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, more than 19,500 children were forcibly taken from Ukraine to russia. At the same time, 3210 children were returned to their homeland.

At the same time, the Institute for War Studies reports that the russian authorities are preparing to intensify the deportation of Ukrainian children to russia during the summer, strengthening another component of russia's genocidal campaign in Ukraine. The occupiers intend to take more than 12,000 children from the occupied Luhansk region alone. 

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How is Ukraine losing its younger generation?

In addition to deportations, Ukraine has faced another problem that may have an equally acute impact on the demographic situation and development of the country in the future. We are talking about refugee children who were forced to leave Ukraine because of the war.

The number of children who left immediately after the start of russian aggression was simply off the charts. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), by March 2022, more than 1 million children had left the country.

Although the data does not currently identify Ukrainian children among the evacuees, Eurostat statistics show that minors account for 33.4% of the total number of refugees - that is, 1.4 million children. But these are only those who have been granted temporary protection in EU countries. According to experts, the number of children who have left is much higher.

Many Ukrainian children have now adapted to life abroad, and some are on the way to doing so. And there is a high probability that most of them will not return to Ukraine, which could significantly affect the country's prosperity in the future.

The rights of those who remain are not protected!

In the context of the war that russia has unleashed in Ukraine, it is difficult to guarantee the well-being of the population, and even more difficult to protect their rights. This problem is particularly acute in frontline cities.

Schools, kindergartens, children's clubs - all of this falls by the wayside when russian bombs fall on Ukrainian cities. As a result, children's rights to education and other interests are violated. 

Ukrainian schools have stopped working during the air raid alert and are also forced to transfer children to distance learning due to a lack of electricity, especially in winter when the country is enveloped in cold weather. This form of education is not easy for children, and, in fact, learning takes a back seat.

It is also worth noting that many families with children have been devastated and left with incomplete lives. As Ukraine continues to fight for its independence and freedom, millions of men have been forced to leave their homes and go to the front. Many will likely never return to the arms of their children and wives. This factor has a serious psychological impact on children, who are forced to grow up without male support and guidance. The absence of one of the fathers also worsens the economic situation of families left without a breadwinner.

The International Children's Day is primarily a date that calls on the world to prevent all of the above. Ukrainian children are going through difficult times, and the task of the civilised world is to do everything possible to protect their rights and give them a chance for a brighter future.

You can contribute to supporting Ukraine and its children by purchasing patriotic merchandise from Visit Ukraine. With every purchase, we donate $10 to the Visit Ukraine NGO. By purchasing our clothing, you not only support people in Ukraine and around the world, but also remind others of the challenges the country is facing. T-shirts, caps, bags and other accessories with the symbols of Ukraine are not just things, but symbols of solidarity and support. Your participation in this movement will help to draw attention to important issues and support Ukrainian children and Ukraine as a whole in their quest for a better future.

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