On 20-21 September 2023, the Council of Europe project “Protecting the Rights of Ukrainian children during and in post-war context" together with the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, held a workshop "Monitoring the rights of children in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression on Ukraine».

During the online workshop, participants gained new knowledge and skills in monitoring the provision of children's right to protection from violence and abuse, in particular in the conditions of martial law, including:

• international and national legal obligations in support of children’s right to protection from violence and abuse;
• relevant principles and definitions - rights, protection, violence and child abuse;
• identification of cases of violence and child abuse with an emphasis on risk groups, during hostilities;
• monitoring methods, including in the conditions of armed conflict.

The workshop was held on the basis of Methodological recommendations for monitoring the compliance with children's right to protection from violence and abuse in the conditions of war, which is a supplementary document to Methodological recommendations for monitoring compliance with children's right to protection from violence and abuse issued in 2021.

"Monitoring is even more relevant at times when priorities and resources are shifting in the context of war, and the disruptions to children's lives caused by attacks by the Russian Federation are ongoing. We are aware and appreciate that the Ukrainian authorities are relentlessly looking for ways to support children affected by the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation, and the Council of Europe stands ready to contribute to such endeavours, within the current mandate and context," said Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine.

"The Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights is grateful to the Council of Europe Office for the support, in particular in the context of protecting children's rights and monitoring their compliance. This workshop will strengthen the capacity of representatives to respond to cases of child right violations," said Iryna Suslova, a Representative of the Commissioner for child rights.

28 representatives of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights from different regions of Ukraine joined the event.

The Council of Europe expresses its gratitude to the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights for fruitful cooperation and active engagement in the preparation of Methodological recommendations, and support in organising and holding the workshop.