MOSCOW, September 23, (RIA Novosti) - Pavel Astakhov, Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, called on the UN Human Rights Council Tuesday to protect minors trapped in conflict zones in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian ombudsman presented a report entitled “Best Practices for Prevention of Violence Against Children: Current Global Issues and Goals” during the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“Children’s rights to security, protection of life and health, harmonious development, education and health care are being violated on (a) large scale in Ukraine. Children in occupied settlements are deprived of food, drinking water, essential medicine and medical treatment,” Astakhov said.
The Ukrainian military’s shelling and mortar attacks “demolished civilian infrastructure and residential areas in many settlements, destroyed a significant number of childcare institutions - kindergartens, schools, clinics, hospitals, maternity homes and orphanages,” the official added.
The children's rights commissioner also reported on violence against Russian adoptees.
“During the past 15 years, 19 Russian children have died in the Unites States because of foreign adoptions,” Astakhov said as cited by his press service.
This year Russian authorities have launched 14 new criminal cases on the deaths of Russian children adopted by American families as well as violence and mistreatment against the adoptees.
