News of the Special Envoy of Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine
Statement on the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
On 4 June 2026, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, made the following statement: “On the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, we remember all children whose lives have been affected by...
Accountability for Russia’s war against Ukraine is a shared responsibility says Special Envoy
Safe return, rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian children necessary, Thórdís Gylfadóttir tells the International Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children
Special Envoy highlights justice for Ukrainian children at Kyiv Security Forum
On 24 April, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, participated online in the Justice and Accountability Panel at the Kyiv Security Forum. The panel, organised in partnership with Covington & Burling, brought...
Special Envoy on a visit to Geneva to discuss protection and return of Ukrainian children
On 9 March, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, visited Geneva to take part in discussions on the margins of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council focusing on the protection and return of...
Justice and accountability for children of Ukraine must remain high on the political agenda
Special Envoy met the First Lady, took part in the Justice Conference in Kyiv
Best practices for interviewing children: evidence-based techniques
In line with the Council of Europe’s unwavering commitment to securing accountability for crimes committed during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) focuses on ensuring that justice efforts protect and empower Ukrainian children....
Co-operation to support children of Ukraine is a test of our collective credibility, says Council of Europe Special Envoy in exchange of views with United Nations
Addressing participants of a discussion on relations with the United Nations , Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, pledged to reinforcing co-operation with UN agencies and other international actors to address...
Abducting children is a tool of war, said Special Envoy for children of Ukraine at the Doha Forum
Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, participated in a discussion on the topic “Modern Warfare: Rethinking Security Architecture Beyond Conventional Threats" during the Doha Forum that took place on 6-7 December...
“We need to rebuild these children’s future”, says Special Envoy at an event on abducted Ukrainian children at the Swedish Parliament
The abduction and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children – deliberate, systematic, strategic - is one of the most devastating wounds inflicted by Russia’s war of aggression. This was the key message of Thordis Gylfadottir, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on...
World Children’s Day: Statement of the Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine
The Special Envoy of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, made the following statement today: “Today, the 20th of November, marks World Children’s Day. As the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against...
Special Envoy for children of Ukraine addresses European Parliament’s subcommittee on human rights
The Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the Situation of the Children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, addressed the European Parliament’s subcommittee on human rights ordinary meeting on 11 November. She reiterated a central part of her mandate,...
Special Envoy’s exchange with 46 CoE states representatives: focus on co-operation, awareness-raising of the plight of children of Ukraine
Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, exchanged views with the Ministers’ Deputies of the Council of Europe today about her activities since the nomination in early February 2025. She stressed that raising awareness...
Olena Khomenko: ‘Targeting homes and kindergartens is a grave crime that demands accountability’
The Chair of the PACE Parliamentary network on the situation of the children of Ukraine, Olena Khomenko, today expressed her “deepest outrage and sorrow” at the brutal Russian missile and drone attacks carried out across Ukraine on 22 October 2025. “According to official Ukrainian sources, at...
Trauma-informed care of children vital for reconstruction of Ukraine
Special Envoy for Children of Ukraine addressed participants of Parliamentary Network in Tallinn
Council of Europe Secretary General’s Special Envoy on the Situation of Children of Ukraine visits London
Situation of children of Ukraine discussed with Minister for Europe, members of parliament and other UK government officials
«We need efforts, funds and people to free children of Ukraine, care for them and rehabilitate them”, says Council of Europe Special Envoy at an event in Vilnius
Speaking at the International Conference “Negotiating Peace for Ukraine: International Law Dimensions and Implications” at the Vilnius University on 3 October, the Special Envoy of Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir called on everyone –...
Council of Europe at the Warsaw Security Forum: “ensuring justice for Ukraine in focus”
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on the situation of Children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir represented the Council of Europe at the 12th edition of the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland (29–30 September 2025). Opened by Polish Prime...
Register of Damage for Ukraine announces launch of claims categories concerning the forcible transfer or deportation of children and adults
The Register of Damage for Ukraine has officially launched a new claims categories: A2.8 & A.2.9 - Forcible Transfer or Deportation of Children and Adults. These categories are designated for individuals – both children and adults - who were forcibly transferred within Ukraine or deported outside...
“Lost Childhood” photo exhibition at the Council of Europe
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge opened the “Lost Childhood” photo exhibition at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The exhibition features the work of photographer Roman Pashkoviskyi, who has captured the haunted eyes of Ukrainian children returned home after being unlawfully deported to...
Statement by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Network on the situation of the children of Ukraine, following the Russian deadly air strikes on Kyiv
“On the night of 28 August, Russia once again targeted Ukraine with missiles and drones. The attack struck residential areas across Kyiv, leaving at least eighteen people dead and injuring more than forty. Among the victims were four children – a two-year-old girl, a fourteen-year-old boy, and...