Carina Ödebrink (centre), along with fellow Special Rapporteurs, presents her report in Porto, 30 June 2025PORTO, 30 June 2025 – A report issued today at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Session in Porto by Swedish parliamentarian Carina Ödebrink brings critically needed attention to the issue of the abduction, deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children. These crimes, the report stresses, must be dealt with urgently and collaboratively by the international community.
The report, which is published in Ödebrink’s capacity as Special Rapporteur of the OSCE PA’s Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, builds upon information made available by internationally recognized actors inside and outside of Ukraine, with the aim of exposing the magnitude of Russia’s violation of international humanitarian law and OSCE commitments.
“Ukraine will not be free before its children are located and returned,” the report states.
Many of the children are forced to undergo intense efforts to erase their Ukrainian identity and are subjected to Russification and militarization, including being forced to speak Russian, sing the Russian national anthem, participate in military marches and handle firearms.
These actions, the report claims, are likely violations of numerous provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other bodies of international law, and the OSCE PA, as an organization dedicated to the human rights and security of all children, has a responsibility to act to ensure that these children are returned to their home country.
Together with international partners, Ödebrink emphasizes, the OSCE PA must take resolute action to ensure accountability for the abductions of Ukrainian children and keep their situation a high priority.
Specifically, the report calls on OSCE parliamentarians to:
- Urge our governments to intensify co-operation with Ukrainian counterparts
- Maintain and deepen international coalitions and collaboration
- Include arrangements for unconditional safe returns of the Ukrainian children in peace and ceasefire negotiations
- Urge OSCE Executive Structures to invoke the Moscow Mechanism for further investigations into the Russian Federation’s abductions
“We must do what we can in order to facilitate this administration of justice,” concludes Ödebrink. “While we are currently assisting Ukraine in war, we must not forget to also assist them in peace.”
Ödebrink was appointed Special Rapporteur by OSCE PA President Pia Kauma last year specifically to examine this critical issue. Her work closely aligns with recommendations adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the 2022 Birmingham, 2023 Vancouver and 2024 Bucharest Declarations.
She issued the report in conjunction with the 32nd Annual Session taking place in Porto, which today featured meetings of the three general committees and ad hoc committees on counter-terrorism and migration. To download the report in English, Russian and Ukrainian, please click here.
To arrange an interview with Carina Ödebrink regarding her work on this subject, please reach out to Nat Parry, [email protected], +45 60 10 81 77
