February 22, 2023
“Gross Human Rights Violations Due to the Aggression Against Ukraine”
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 10:00-13:00, 15:00-18:00
Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters
New York, February 22.
Thank you for organizing this event and for inviting my organization to share our first-hand experience – being in the field offers us a direct view, closeness, and understanding of the true needs of Ukrainian children and their families.
Let me briefly introduce AVSI: we carry out development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects in 39 countries. Our mission is to work for a world in which every person can be the protagonist of their own integral development, along with that of their community, even in emergency situations.
AVSI’s approach in responding to the violation of children’s rights in conflicts has been tested in different contexts. It originates in Rwanda, after the 1994 genocide, then was practiced in Northern Uganda, DRC, Kenya, Ivory Coast, South Sudan, Eastern Europe, the Middle East region since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, and now in Ukraine. Experience taught us that only a multi-sectoral, holistic approach – which includes all the factors contributing to the child’s well-being (medical and psychological care, food, shelter, education) – has a real impact in responding to their needs and addressing the violation of their rights.
Furthermore, AVSI makes use of a community approach also in conflicts, by fostering the involvement and activation of family members (when present), local associations, religious communities, and others, to build a safe environment for every child.
Here are a few numbers we should remember: since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 429 children were killed and 808 injured (OCHA Situation Report, Last updated: 10 Feb 2023).
The war has caused immense mental trauma to children exposed to the horrors of fighting and hostilities. War trauma, social isolation, daily struggles without power and heating, displacement-related challenges, and more: all these factors are expected to cause long-lasting mental health issues, for up to at least five years after the war ends.
What we see as children’s violations Family separation or disrupted family relations, including forcible transfers to Russia; exposure to abuse and exploitations either as victims or witnesses; attacks on schools and hospitals which deprive children of access to education and medical services. Children also suffer the consequences of their parent’s distress conditions.
I will now mention some clear examples of the dimension and dire consequences of the Ukrainian crisis:
Due to our history and mission, AVSI always dedicates special attention to education, a key issue in emergency and development interventions.
We are following the same approach in the Ukrainian war, working hard to ensure the necessary support to children (and their families), and to uphold their right to education and access to adequate childcare services. While responding to multiple needs, we try to safeguard continuity in learning and safe and inclusive spaces to do so, whenever possible, adopting a comprehensive and multi-stakeholder approach.
a. A regional approach: since the beginning, we took a regional approach in our response to the Ukrainian crisis. This allows us to have a broad overview of the current situation, to follow the refugee flows and the impact of the war on different areas and sectors. This is a crisis without borders.
Up to now, we supported around 200,000 people (local population in Ukraine, IDPs and refugees) thanks to emergency response interventions in Ukraine (in Lviv, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv), Poland, Romania and Italy.
b. The role of civil society organizations: We work closely together with local organizations: in every region where we operate, we promote the role of civil society organizations and partners (Caritas Spes and others, local NGOs, etc.), as they are closer to the most vulnerable people and can identify their authentic needs. Their position allows them to increase mutual understanding and to create a stable link between foreign organizations and local reality, which is essential to carry out effective actions.
As a matter of fact, we could be present and at work in Ukraine thank you to all our donors, particularly I have to thank you and recognize the key role of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the AICS, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation + UN agencies OCHA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, UNOPS) EU , EU (ECHO), pooled funds like Education Cannot Wait and private foundations.
c. How to defend and promote the right to education?
The following suggestions and recommendations are rooted in our current experience and presence in Ukraine:
We cannot forget the Ukrainian children who are living in Eastern Ukraine, in areas under Russian military control. They, too, need support and help. Due to the restrictions (on the movement of humanitarian staff and the blockage of relief supplies across the front line), however, we have no way of knowing how they are, and what they need.
We can’t forget them.
Visit AVSI.org for more.
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