The Council of Europe’s Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) convened its 9th Plenary meeting in Strasbourg (14-16 April 2026), bringing together member states, international organisations, civil society and experts to take stock and strengthen coordinated responses to the evolving realities faced by children affected by the war.
The discussions were structured around advancing concrete actions across CGU priority areas. This included strengthening accountability for crimes against children, including unlawful deportation and forcible transfer, and advancing co-operation with relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the methodology and progress for of the CGU Reference Group on Indoctrination, Re-education and Militarisation, coordinated with the strong support of Leiden University, were outlined.
Safeguarding access to education in times of war remained a key focus, with continued support across member states and the forthcoming establishment of a CGU Working Group on Access to Education. Progress was also reported on enhancing coordination on safe return and reintegration of children from Council of Europe member states to Ukraine.
The discussions further addressed risks faced by children with disabilities and ongoing efforts to advance inclusive care, including through the work of the newly established Advisory Group.
A screening of the powerful film Children in the Fire, followed by an exchange with the director and a lived experience expert, brought urgency and perspective to the room - grounding policy discussions in the realities children face every day.
The plenary reaffirmed the CGU’s role as a rapid-response coordination mechanism fostering practical, child-centred solutions across borders and sectors.
On 16 April, as part of the plenary, a High-level Expert Exchange focused on the growing challenge of technology-facilitated and AI-enabled violence affecting children in conflict, with a particular emphasis on Ukraine. Experts and stakeholders explored evolving risks posed by digital technologies, including the accelerating role of AI in amplifying both the scale and sophistication of abuse, as well as gaps and opportunities in legal and policy responses, and concrete strategies for prevention, protection and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Opening the exchange, Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity of the Council of Europe, captured the urgency of the challenge noting that “this convergence of conflict, displacement and digitalisation creates a new risk landscape — one in which children are vulnerable not only to the immediate consequences of war, but also to forms of violence mediated through technology and increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.”
The exchange served as a platform to align efforts, sharpen collective understanding, and identify priorities for coordinated, child-centred action.
Calls for Tenders
