Published on: 2026-04-20
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Fr=reiser completed a five-day trip to Ukraine, during which she discussed with the country’s leadership and humanitarian partners the protection of children affected by the war.
This was her first visit to the country as a special representative. The trip took place against the backdrop of ongoing attacks that are causing the deaths of children.
“After more than four years of war, the children of Ukraine continue to bear its heaviest burden. Their fundamental rights are violated daily,” Fraser said. According to her, strikes on civilian infrastructure destroy schools, hospitals, water and heating systems, depriving children of access to vital services.
The visit began with meetings with children affected by the conflict. Freizer also held negotiations with Ukraine’s First Lady Elena Zelenska, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Minister of Social Policy and Family Unity Denys Ulityn, the interdepartmental working group on children and armed conflict issues, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Defense, Ukraine’s Security Service, UN agencies, local authorities, and civil society representatives in the frontline areas.
Risks for children and the necessity of system protection
The special representative expressed concern about cases of children’s involvement in the context of war, including through social networks. She emphasized that children accused of committing crimes must be held in accordance with international standards of juvenile justice, and detention should be used only as a last resort.
Fraser visited a school-shelter in Kharkiv and an underground child protection center in Zolochiv, created with the support of UNICEF. She noted the importance of continuing support for education, psychosocial assistance, and comprehensive child protection services in conflict conditions.
“Children talked about their right to education, about striving for peace and the desire to live without fear,” Freyzer said. As part of the global Prove it Matters campaign, Ukrainian schoolchildren from approximately 1,800 schools wrote more than 6,500 messages of peace on paper cranes.
Mine danger
Ukraine remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world: almost a quarter of its territory is potentially contaminated. Fraser called on Ukraine to reconsider the decision to suspend participation in the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines and appealed to the international donors to expand support for demining and training programs on handling explosive devices.
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