Militarisation of Ukrainian children in temporarily occupied territories must be recognised as crime against humanity, — Lubinets
Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada’s Human Rights Commissioner, has called for the systematic militarization of Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories to be recognized as a crime against humanity.
According to Censor.NET, this is stated in his statement on his Telegram channel.
According to the ombudsman, this practice has been going on for years and is becoming increasingly widespread. Children in the occupied territories are exposed to propaganda and military narratives, which significantly influence their development and worldview.
Systemic policies and calls for accountability
Lubinec emphasized that the militarization of education effectively turns educational institutions into tools for preparing for war. Instead of a comprehensive educational process, children are being forced to accept military ideology and participate in pseudo-patriotic organizations.
"The militarization of Ukrainian children must be recognized as a crime against humanity," Lubinets added.
The Ombudsman called on Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, the international community, and the International Criminal Court to assess these actions from a legal standpoint and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
According to the data provided, since 2022, Ukrainian children have been transferred to at least 210 facilities in Russia and the occupied regions. In a significant number of these facilities, children are being subjected to propaganda programs as well as military training.
In addition, children are being forced to join militarized organizations, and schools are introducing specialized classes with a military focus. According to the ombudsman, these actions are part of a deliberate policy aimed at reshaping the mindset of the younger generation.
Lubinec emphasized that the international community must respond to these developments, as ignoring the problem risks the further spread of such practices.
What led up to
- Earlier, the Center for Countering Disinformation stated that Russia is intensifying the militarization of school education in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine by integrating military training directly into the curriculum.
Starting September 1, "Cossack classes" will open for 5th-grade students in schools in the occupied cities of Donetsk, Makiivka, Dokuchaevsk, and Mariupol. The introduction of such classes is an attempt to erase the Ukrainian identity of children in the temporarily occupied territories and forcibly integrate them into the Russian military machine. The occupiers are effectively depriving children of their right to a peaceful childhood by normalizing war from the school benches, the CPD writes.
