Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
60. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urge the EU institutions and countries to collect information and intelligence of the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and sanction Russian officials involved in these crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19781/23]
View answerIreland is deeply concerned by mounting evidence that Russia is forcibly transferring Ukrainian children, either to parts of Ukraine’s territory temporarily controlled or occupied by Russia, or to Russia itself.
Concerns in relation to Russia’s actions in this regard have been raised by credible bodies, including the OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights. Such actions are a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Russia is a party to. These actions could also amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.
Ireland has raised this issue in our statements in multilateral fora, including the Human Rights Council, both in national capacity and as part of the European Union. We will continue to do so, to highlight our concerns and to hold Russia to account. We will also continue to engage with the EU and with our partners to determine the extent of the issue and to ensure that those responsible for such crimes are held to account.
The EU Commission is expected to present a proposal for an eleventh sanctions package in the coming weeks. Ireland will continue to support work on restrictive measures related to the forced displacement of children from Ukraine.
Ireland co-sponsored a resolution of the UN Human Rights Council establishing an Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This Commission will establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of any such violations and abuses. The Commission has already provided an interim report to the Human Rights Council in September 2022; the report found that, amongst other grave human rights violations, civilians have been unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation. At the 52 session of the Human Rights Council in March 2023, the Commission of Inquiry reported that Russian authorities have committed a wide range of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including attacks on civilians and energy-related inrastructure, willful killings, unlawful confinement, torture, rape and other sexual violence, as well as unlawful transfers and deportations of children. The Commission will submit a comprehensive report in 2024.
I also welcome the decision by the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor Office to issue arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in respect of possible war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. Ireland is a strong supporter of the independence and integrity of the International Criminal Court and its vital work in investigating and prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity.
