On July 7–8, 2026, with the support and participation of Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG), ADC Memorial held a seminar aimed at discussion with Ukrainian colleagues on an ethical and effective approach to monitoring of the rights of children affected with the war as a result of Russian aggression, actions of the Russian military, and policies of the Russian authorities.

The seminar was attended by lawyers, human rights defenders, sociologists, psychologists, educators, and experts in social work with children. Participants traveled from various cities across Ukraine—Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and others. The presentations and reports covered both various theoretical approaches to forms of monitoring and practical insights from those who work daily to address the issues faced by affected children. Presentations by human rights organizations specializing in assisting children who survived the Russian occupation sparked a lively discussion.

Of particular interest to many participants was the purpose of documenting violations of children’s rights: to which international judicial bodies (the UN International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe’s tribunal on Russian aggression, and other quasi-judicial bodies such as the UN Human Rights Committee) complaints can be filed, and how this process is carried out. Thus, Mykola Komarovski (KHPG) spoke in his presentation about complaints already filed with the ICC and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child:

“We consistently raise the issue of crimes against children before international bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Committee. Since the beginning of the war, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group has submitted a number of communications with a specific focus on children, in particular advocating for the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to be recognized as genocide and documenting cases of enforced disappearances, torture, and other international crimes. We hope and believe that these crimes will not go unnoticed and that we will help bring closer the day when those responsible are held accountable.”

At the seminar, an issue was also discussed whether information about victimized children—submitted anonymously (and therefore unable to serve as the basis for legal protection of these children’s rights)—could be used in any way. Representatives of ADC Memorial expressed the view that even in cases where the children themselves or their legal guardians oppose legal action, there are still opportunities for advocacy—such as when the children’s names are changed, the information is presented in a generalized form, and sometimes it becomes a story illustrating a broader issue, for example, a graphic narrative, an animated documentary or is otherwise artistically presented to attract attention and heighten the emotional impact on the audience.

Much was said at the seminar about the need to conduct conversations ethically—not only with children but also about children—even when the issue is being discussed by adults, as well as the need to securely store and use sensitive information. At the same time, the importance of achieving the goal of documentation—gathering information about crimes against children committed during military aggression—was emphasized.

Following the seminar, it was decided to form a working group to develop recommendations and methodological approaches that will assist the work of human rights defenders, sociologists, lawyers, journalists, and educators alike. The seminar participants supported the idea of further cooperation and the exchange of information and experience on this topic, which is important to everyone.