Lubinec called for the militarisation of children to be recognised as a crime against humanity
This was reported by Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada’s Commissioner for Human Rights.
Dmytro Lubinets stated that the militarisation of Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories has been going on for years and remains unpunished to this day.
According to him, tens of thousands of children are forced to grow up in an environment of propaganda, fear and imposed military narratives. What should be a right to education, Russia is turning into an instrument of aggression.
Lubinec emphasised that schools in the occupied territories are becoming training grounds for war, and cadet classes foster obedience rather than children’s curiosity.
The militarisation of education since 2014
According to the Ombudsman, since 2014 the militarisation of education has been affecting an increasing number of Ukrainian children.
Lubinec cited data from Yale University, according to which, since February 2022, Ukrainian children have been transferred to at least 210 institutions in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
In 62% of these institutions, children are subjected to cultural, patriotic and military propaganda. In 19% of the institutions, military training is conducted, including combat exercises, parades and work with drones.
The Ombudsman described this as a gross violation of international humanitarian law and a crime against Ukrainian children.
Coercion into pseudo-patriotic organisations
Lubinec stated that children are being forced to join military and pseudo-patriotic organisations, including ‘Yunarmiya’, ‘Orlyata Rossii’, ‘Voina’ and ‘Zarnitsa 2.0’.
He also mentioned that on 17 February, the so-called “Russian Cadet Day” was celebrated in the Luhansk region.
According to the Ombudsman, the militarisation of Ukrainian children in the occupied territories is taking on new forms.
From 1 September, schools in the temporarily occupied cities of Donetsk, Makiivka, Dokuchaievsk and Mariupol plan to introduce so-called “Cossack classes” for Year 5 pupils as a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
Lubinec emphasised that these are not isolated incidents, but a deliberate policy and strategy of war.
An appeal to the ICC and the international community
The Ombudsman stated that these actions have not yet received a proper legal assessment.
According to him, the systematic militarisation of Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories is unprecedented in modern history.
Lubinec called on Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies, the international community and the International Criminal Court to recognise the systematic militarisation of children as a crime against humanity.
He also called for those responsible to be held to
account. “Those who have robbed children of their childhood must be brought to justice,” Lubinets said.
As reported by ThePublic, the European Parliament has called for Russia’s liability for the war against Ukraine to be expanded
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