The European Court of Human Rights has heard how 10 Ukrainian children, aged between one and five, went missing from childcare institutions after Russia annexed Crimea and were subsequently put up for adoption.
Key facts
- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) heard the case concerning 10 missing Ukrainian children.
- The children were aged between one and five years old.
- They were taken from childcare institutions, according to the court.
- The court heard the children were put up for adoption.
The European Court of Human Rights has heard evidence that 10 Ukrainian children went missing from childcare institutions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, according to Al Jazeera.
The court was told that the children, aged between one and five years old, were taken from the institutions where they had been living. According to the account presented to the court, the young children were subsequently put up for adoption.
The case, heard by the ECHR, focuses on the fate of these very young children in the period after Russia took control of the Crimean peninsula. The details presented centre on how the children disappeared from the care system and what happened to them afterwards.
Al Jazeera reported that the children involved were among the most vulnerable, given their ages ranged from as young as one year old up to five years old at the time they went missing.
The reporting focuses on the testimony delivered before the court regarding the removal of the children from childcare institutions and their placement for adoption.
Why it matters
The case raises serious questions about the protection of vulnerable children during territorial conflicts and occupations. Proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights could shape how such disappearances are treated under international human rights law.
Frequently asked questions
How many children are involved in the ECHR case?
According to Al Jazeera, the case concerns 10 Ukrainian children who went missing from childcare institutions.
How old were the children when they went missing?
The court heard that the children were aged between one and five years old.
What happened to the children after they were taken?
According to the court, the children were taken from childcare institutions and put up for adoption.