UN General Assembly, 78th session, 3rd Committee
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
Statement of the Nordic-Baltic Countries, delivered by H.E. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN
5 October 2023, New York
Mr Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries and my own country, Estonia.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has caused the children of Ukraine sufferings that will impact them for a lifetime. Russia was listed in the Secretary-General report on Children and Armed Conflict as a party carrying out grave violations against children. The overview of these violations against Ukrainian children in the context of Russia’s war of aggression is extremely disturbing, including the reference to the youngest victim of rape who is only four years old. International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova who are responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia and Belarus. The Ukrainian government has identified over 19,000 children unlawfully deported or otherwise separated from their parents or guardians. The real number is certainly higher.
Madame Special Representative,
In your report, you have urged all parties to end impunity and prevent the occurrence of grave violations committed against children. In that context, has Russia signed the Joint Action Plan or indicated the time-line for signing it? Have the Russian officials provided your office with access to the Ukrainian territories occupied by the Russian Armed Forces? In the context of numerous ongoing-armed conflicts, what would be the most effective way to address accountability in a more effective manner?
Thank you.
