The Verkhovna Rada has passed new legislative proposals addressing the complex issues surrounding the recognition of status for children affected by armed conflict.
These changes also officially acknowledge the status of deported and temporarily displaced children.
This was announced by the parliament speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk.
In Ukraine, the process for granting status to a child affected by hostilities is regulated by the Law "On Child Protection" and a resolution from the Cabinet of Ministers. Previously, there were inconsistencies in the documents regarding who could grant this status and on what grounds.
The aim of bill No. 12385 is to eliminate these inconsistencies. It stipulates that the status of a child affected by war can be granted based on:
- declared or registered place of residence;
- registration of the child as an internally displaced person;
- application if the child's residence is unregistered or located in a combat zone;
- discovery of such a child by executive authorities or local self-government.
Bill No. 9495 officially establishes the definitions of deported and forcibly displaced children. According to the explanatory note, it sets legal foundations for their return and aims to facilitate their integration into Ukrainian society.
Deportation is defined as the illegal transfer of a child to the aggressor state without the consent of the child and their legal representatives. Forcible displacement is considered the transfer of a child from Ukraine to temporarily occupied territories or Russia without their consent.
