Maria Lvova-Belova presented the third issue of the bulletin entitled Work by the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights of the Russian Federation to Protect Children during the Special Military Operation, released in Russian and English.
The Children’s Commissioner noted that the humanitarian mission of that human rights body was growing in scale every year and was currently focused on helping children and families in the new regions. Since 2023, the humanitarian headquarters in Donetsk, Mariupol, Lugansk, Melitopol and Genichesk have processed over 3,600 appeals from people. In 2024, they received 460 applications and provided targeted assistance to 1,490 children.
The Commissioner spoke in detail about counselling for children affected by armed conflicts and the training of relevant personnel. The Day After Tomorrow rehabilitation sessions have been held for children from the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Kherson, Zaporozhye, Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions. Overall, 2,700 teenagers have taken part in 13 such sessions. In addition, two sessions have been held for children and their parents, which involved 60 families from the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Zaporozhye and Belgorod regions.
The Commissioner’s institute continues its work to help reunite children with their relatives in Russia, Ukraine and other countries. Maria Lvova-Belova pointed out that these activities were conducted exclusively in the humanitarian spirit and in the best interests of children, as per the President’s instructions.
To date, nine children have been reunited with five families in Russia and 70 children with 52 families in Ukraine.
Maria Lvova-Belova highlighted the mediation of Qatar in the reunification of families. While on a working visit to Doha this year, she held the first in-person talks, mediated by Qatar, with Ukrainian counterparts, during which the sides coordinated concrete lists of persons. As per the agreements reached, six children from five families have been reunited with their relatives in Ukraine. This cooperation will be continued.
The reunification of families is proceeding with active involvement of representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Holy See.
As per the President’s instructions, the Commissioner’s office is also contributing to the repatriation of Russian children from conflict zones. Maria Lvova-Belova reported that since 2023 they had made three trips to the Syrian Arab Republic to bring 122 children back to Russia and collect DNA samples from 132 minors in the al-Hol and Roj refugee camps. The next trip to Syria has been scheduled for early July.
The Commissioner noted that they had redoubled efforts for social and psychological guidance and rehabilitation of children who had repatriated from the Middle East.
During the news conference, Maria Lvova-Belova spoke about the humanitarian projects of her office in Africa, the CIS, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. She also touched on the topic of helping children from the Karabakh families that have relocated to Russia and Armenia.
Maria Lvova-Belova also mentioned prospects for humanitarian cooperation with the People’s Republic of China, including with contribution from members of the Federal Children's Public Council.