Toespraak van de Koningin tijdens het Side Event “Restoring Childhood and Humanity – Advancing Peace in Ukraine Through the Return of Ukrainian Children” in New York
Address by Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians
On behalf of the Kingdom of Belgium
Side Event “Restoring Childhood and Humanity – Advancing Peace in Ukraine Through the Return of Ukrainian Children”
September 23rd, 2025
New York
Mr. President,
Honorable First Lady,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start by expressing my heartfelt empathy towards all the Ukrainian children whose lives are being seriously compromised by Russia’s aggression.
Many children have died or been wounded as a result of horrendous attacks on civilian targets. Children live in fear of losing their lives, and of losing their loved ones.
Countless children cannot go to school. Many of them are displaced, inside Ukraine or abroad. Families are torn apart.
Ukrainian children cannot enjoy the innocent, carefree childhood they deserve, and need.
The reports of children being taken away from their families are heartbreaking. These reports point to an intense violation of their rights in a deliberate, organized manner. Independent experts have established that these deportations of Ukrainian children amount to war crimes. The forced adoption, acquisition of Russian nationality, militarization and indoctrination of Ukrainian minors must stop.
We must spare no effort to identify and locate all unaccompanied and separated Ukrainian children that have been transferred or deported. We must continue to work on solutions to protect the children and restore family ties.
Children’s rights, and specifically the protection of children in armed conflict, is of the highest priority for my country. Belgium supports UNICEF in its efforts to monitor and report on the violation of children’s rights. We have provided specific funding for UNICEF projects in Ukraine, including assistance for unaccompanied children and those separated from their families. My country also supports on a bilateral base initiatives that benefit children and their education.
Every day that the rights of Ukraine’s children are violated, it compromises their future. And the children of Ukraine constitute the most precious component of Ukraine’s future. Belgium will continue to support the Coalition and the UN agencies to make sure that Ukraine’s children will be able to flourish in an independent, prosperous and safe Ukraine.
I thank you for your attention.