FMSI and Child Rights Connect express their concern for the humanitarian situation affecting children in Ukraine. During the Urgent Debate on the situation of human rights in Ukraine – held on March 3rd at the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council – Child Rights Connect and all its members called for a ceasefire and urged the international community to support all measures that protect children’s rights. FMSI is a member Organization of Child Rights Connect since 2013 and it has special consultative status with UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that gives the Organization the opportunity to participate in relevant UN conferences, meetings and working groups dealing with child rights. FMSI has presented reports on the situation of human and child rights in more than 30 Countries.
As at 10 March 2022, according to UNICEF, more than 1 million children have fled Ukraine with their families to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Romania. The situation for children caught up in the conflict in Ukraine grows worse by the minute. Many children have been killed, wounded and traumatized by the violence of the war.
FMSI and Child Rights Connect are working together with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The whole network prepared a statement to express concern for the humanitarian situation affecting children in Ukraine.
“As a network of organisations and individuals committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of children, we stand united against war. We reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue and negotiations to stop the escalation of war in Ukraine and we call on the international community to support all measures that protect children’s lives and wellbeing, including support for all children and families to find safety within Ukraine and across borders without discrimination. We also support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry by the Council and any other accountability mechanisms to deal with violations and abuses of children’s rights.”
As mentioned in article 38 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, “[…..]States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict.”
Read the full statement on humanitarian situation affecting children in #Ukraine: https://bit.ly/3tB36OQ
What is Child Rights Connect?
Child Rights Connect is a global network of 80 international and national non-governmental organizations committed to ensuring that all children fully enjoy their rights as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Child Rights Connect works with independent NGOs in any Country that has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and/or its Optional Protocols. Since its establishment in 1983, the NGO Group has developed leading expertise in child rights and the work of the Committee at the international level, providing a coordinated platform for NGOs action and playing a central role in key child rights developments. As a network, it has members at national, regional, and international levels, including other networks and child-led organisations. Child Rights Connect works closely with national NGOs and coalitions, UN agencies and experts, States, and children themselves, to advance children’s rights around the world. It has a working relationship with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and special ECOSOC consultative status at the United Nations, meaning that it is fully recognised to take part in United Nations deliberations. Child Rights Connect – leading expert on the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child – plays a central role in key children’s rights developments at international level, including the drafting of all the UN treaties on children’s rights.
