The armed conflict in Donbass violates all the rights of the child, guaranteed by international law – the right to life, the right to communicate with the child’s family, the right to health, the right to personal development, and the right to be nurtured and protected.
The shelling of the boarding school No. 3 in Trudovskiye village, Donetsk, and of the boarding school No. 14 in Yasinovataya is a grave violation of international law. In the time of the armed conflict children need special protection, because the life and health of the child are invaluable. About 40 children live in boarding school No. 3, 50 children – in boarding school No. 14. I would like to stress that this is a sanatorium school for children with scoliosis. The shelling of educational institutions is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Moreover, as a result of the shelling by the Ukrainian security forces against the Trudovskiye village on June 4, a child born in 2008 was seriously injured. The boy and his mother were going home after visiting friends. The mother died right in front of the child, the boy became an orphan. Even the action with sky lanterns in memory of the children who died in the armed conflict entailed a heavy fire of Ukrainian forces.
In international law, there are a number of documents that protect the rights of the child. Among them are the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Safe Schools Declaration.
I have already appealed to international organizations, namely the UN Human Rights, OSCE, ICRC and UNICEF on the fact of crimes committed by the Ukrainian side.
I will definitely raise the issue of jeopardising children’s lives at the next meeting in Minsk. I want to remind you that war crimes do not have a statute of limitations. Those responsible will be held accountable for all crimes against the peaceful population of Donbass.
