How to strengthen the protection of children from violence and abuse in times of war?

Цей текст є класичним релізом за підсумками офіційного заходу (круглого столу). В англомовній практиці для таких матеріалів використовується чітка офіційна термінологію, затверджена ООН, UNICEF та правозахисними інституціями (наприклад, inter-agency cooperation, best interests of the child, families in difficult life circumstances).

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This very question was the central theme of the roundtable discussion “Inter-Agency Cooperation in Child Protection Against Abuse: Challenges, Practices, and Solutions,” organized on June 10, 2026, by the Chernihiv Committee for Human Rights Protection.

The event brought together representatives from regional authorities, the Representative Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the Chernihiv Region, the National Police, the Prosecutor’s Office, child welfare services, educational and healthcare institutions, centers for social services, as well as non-governmental and international organizations.

Participants discussed current challenges in child rights protection, specifically focusing on cases of violence against children, sexual violence, abuse, and the issue of children’s access to social, psychological, legal, and other essential services. Particular attention was paid to the accessibility of information regarding available help, as timely requests for support often play a decisive role in protecting a child.

In times of war, the risks of child rights violations escalate significantly. Therefore, the early identification of children and families in difficult life circumstances, along with effective cooperation among all services and institutions responsible for child protection, takes on paramount importance.

During the discussion, participants noted that official statistics do not always reflect the full scale of the problem, as not all cases come to the attention of the relevant authorities. For this reason, developing mechanisms for early risk detection and timely response remains crucial.

A separate session of the discussion focused on the findings of monitoring visits to childcare and residential institutions. Participants discussed the recommendations provided and emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring of their implementation, as the fulfillment of rights and the best interests of the child directly depend on it.

The vital role of non-governmental and international organizations was also highlighted. These entities help communities establish safe spaces for children, upgrade the skills of professionals, and strengthen the capacity of local services. At the same time, participants emphasized that while project-based support operates on fixed timelines, the long-term support for children must ultimately be sustained at the community level, involving the relevant state and local services.

Among the challenging issues requiring further attention, participants identified combating bullying in educational institutions, developing early detection systems for families in difficult life circumstances, improving inter-agency cooperation mechanisms, and expanding the range of social services available within local territorial communities.

Following the roundtable, participants supported the initiative to hold regular inter-agency coordination meetings at least once a quarter to discuss emerging challenges, share best practices, and identify collaborative solutions.

Protecting children from violence and abuse is a shared responsibility of state authorities, local governments, civil society, and all professionals working with children. Only by joining forces can we build a safe environment where the rights and best interests of every child are fully protected.