Future needs of returned children, their rehabilitation and reintegration

***

First of all let me express my gratitude for being invited to participate in this event.

I am sure that all of us share many of the same concerns, and I know that many of you in the audience possess great expertise, far beyond mine.

I am grateful for what I have been able to take in - listening to the parts of the programs I was able to attend - and hope that I will get a chance to listen to and learn more from you in the future.

It helps me guide my efforts in my role as Special Envoy on the Situation of the Children of Ukraine for the Council of Europe. And as we all have an ambition in our own roles to make it count - I believe we are all learning from one another.

All of us who are taking part today wish to be useful for the important cause we are discussing.
If any of you believe that my involvement can be of use to your efforts - or think that it would be useful to have a further dialogue - I am more than willing to give you my direct personal contact information after the session.

We need to work together.

***

Dear friends.

I am sure we are all watching with a mix of hope and trepidation all the diplomatic efforts that are going on these days.

There have been a lot of false hopes - a lot of false starts.

But mostly - there is a lot of drama that keeps the news media busy.

To tell you the truth - I sometimes wonder if much of the West is watching this war like it is some sort of a TV drama or a Reality TV show.

And, unfortunately, I get the sense that there is an all-too-common misconception that a temporary or prolonged ceasefire will be some sort of a final episode.

That people are hoping so intensely for an end - that they will not have the attention span to focus on what comes next.

That the world will lose interest in what happens in the aftermath.

I really do not mean to make this sound trite - I simply really don’t have a better analogy for this concern.

***
But while politicians and media pundits are busy analysing the comments and theatrics of the diplomatic drama - nothing changes for those whose lives are being damaged and destroyed on a day-to-day basis because of Russia’s actions.

Perhaps the ugliest aspect of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is the wilful policy of destroying the lives of children.

We all hope that peace will come to Ukraine and freedom will be secured. However, whatever happens in other matters, there will not be any justice unless the issue of Ukrainian children is appropriately addressed and resolved.

And for Ukraine to prosper - there will need to be a gigantic effort to help rehabilitate those who have suffered terrible physical and psychological trauma at the hands of the aggressor.

The safe return of the children and, ultimately, their successful reintegration into Ukrainian society, as well as the protection of children at risk of deportation, are a priority concern for both Ukraine and the international community.

It is clear that addressing the needs of these children is a colossal challenge, perhaps one of the greatest challenges of our times.

For how can one ever “repair” such evil?

Following my recent visit to Ukraine, I believe that among the most acute need is trauma-informed support.

Trauma-informed care and accountability are vital pre-conditions to any sustainable reconstruction.

Trauma-informed support is essential as a means in itself, so as to be able to address the deep emotional scars that war has left on these children and to avoid their re-traumatisation.

It is also intrinsically linked to any effective accountability process, by ensuring the accuracy of children’s testimonies during criminal investigations and for a subsequent trial.

As this war of aggression tragically drags into its fourth year, it is more apparent than ever that Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts and any hope for sustainable peace can only be achieved if there is effective accountability and effective accountability is based on a trauma-informed approach.

Despite the deep-rooted, widespread and debilitating trauma among all war-affected children of Ukraine, many front-line professionals working with children lack training in trauma-informed care and children’s rights, both within and outside Ukraine.

Efforts by the Council of Europe to develop comprehensive trauma-informed materials, such as manuals and training courses, for front-line professionals working with children in times of crisis, including journalists, are advancing well.

However, given the extent of the trauma, coupled with the cost of implementing such trainings effectively on a large scale, financial commitments will be needed.

Without trauma-informed care for children of Ukraine, any reconstruction efforts would represent an almost empty promise on rebuilding Ukraine. It’s not enough to rebuild roads, bridges and energy infrastructure. To truly rebuild after a war, you must rebuild the true worth of a nation, the human beings, the children, our future, the future of Ukraine.

***
My ambition is to be of use to this cause of helping the children of Ukraine - it is a cause that is obviously greater than myself - and greater than the institution that has given me the platform I am standing on.

I know that all of us share this dedication - and I hope we are all in it for the long haul - because these are issues that will take a long-term commitment, no matter what the day-to-day spectacle on the news is telling us.

What matters are the individuals - the children and their families who are only asking to be allowed to return to a normal life - as ordinary people, but to be free.

Again, I hope that I will be able to connections here today and that we all consider ourselves to be a part of the same team and with the same aims.

Slava Ukraini.