On 9 July 2025, Council of Europe’s Secretary General Alain Berset, opened a high-level stock-taking conference on the Situation of Children of Ukraine: Council of Europe Actions, marking the conclusion of the first mandate (1 August 2023 – 31 July 2025) of the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU). The speakers included Hon. Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights of Malta; Mariana Betsa, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine and Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine. Co-organised by the CGU and the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the conference reviewed progress to date, identified existing gaps, and set the direction for the next phase of coordinated action in support of children of Ukraine as a direct implementation of the Reykjavik Declaration.
Following the conference, a special hearing examined the impact of war on children with disabilities. A mapping study outlining the current situation, challenges and recommendations for more inclusive support for children with disabilities affected by war is being prepared by the CGU Secretariat and will be released soon.
Prior to the conference, the CGU held its 6th plenary meeting (7-8 July), were discussions focused on the progress made by the CGU in the areas of safe return from host states to Ukraine, trauma-informed care and access to education, prevention of human trafficking, and the reform of Ukraine’s child protection system.
