1,000 days of Russian full-scaled invasion of Ukraine — statement by SFLG Global Platform

War destroys the lives of not only today’s generations but also future ones. It hurts children directly, depriving them of parents, homes, and friends. But its destructive power is even greater: economic ties, the environment, educational opportunities — everything that should ensure children’s right to grow up in safety and development — are destroyed.

19 November marks 1,000 days since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, 592 children have been confirmed killed in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, but the real numbers are likely much higher. According to the governmental Children of War website, 19,546 children have been deported or forcibly displaced during the same period. This is a statistic that conceals even more grief: hundreds of thousands of families torn apart, children orphaned, losing their homes and forced to seek refuge abroad.

We, the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform, believe that the safety of children should be the number one priority for the whole world. Because all children are our children — and this motto applies on a planetary scale.

We are sure that together, through our joint efforts, we will be able to restore children’s right to a happy and peaceful childhood and stop the horrific war crimes that are happening every day.