Office of Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner says 240 children have been removed from the families of Ukrainian refugees in EU countries

The Office of Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner has obtained information about 240 incidents when social services in EU countries removed children from the families of Ukrainian refugees.

Source: Iryna Suslova, Representative for the Rights of Children, Families, Youth, and Sport, in an interview with Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty)

Quote from Suslova: "Differences in legislation have resulted in cases, in European countries, when children were removed from the custody of people with whom they were staying. As of now, we know of 240 such cases.

For example, this could happen in cases when the mother had to stay and work in Ukraine, sending her child abroad with their grandmother. If the grandmother does not have the power of attorney to represent her interests, and is not considered a relative of this child under European law, social services can involve the police and remove the child from the family."

Details: Suslova said that Ukraine could have been better prepared to deal with such cases.

"We had to let people know, to tell them: ‘Dear friends, there are laws that mean you have to do such and such things in, for example, Germany.’ Or [to explain that] a person aged 65 and over cannot be a custodian of a child in Italy or France. The Commissioner’s office is trying to keep up to date with such things, to monitor the situation, and to give legal aid to women or families who have ended up in similar situations. We are currently working with international organisations to resolve these issues and to ensure that those who have ended up in similar situations can receive legal aid and interpreters," Suslova added.

She explained that the relatives of children who have been removed by European social services should get in touch with Ukrainian consulates in their respective countries and inform them about what happened. They can also appeal directly to the Human Rights Commissioner’s office.

Previously: In late May, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, said that the Ukrainian government was aware of "several dozen" cases of children being removed from the families of Ukrainian refugees in EU countries.

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