Thank you, Chair. The Netherlands aligns itself with the statement delivered by Cyprus on behalf of member states of the European Union and would like to add the following in my national capacity. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Romania and Ukraine align with this national statement.
We remain deeply concerned about the fate of all Ukrainian children forcibly transferred within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, or unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. Each child has a name, a family and a right to grow up in safety in their own country. With each passing day, these children face intensified risks of russification, passportisation and, in some cases, even military conscription.
Against this background, the Netherlands highlights a recent joint initiative. On 16 and 17 April 2026, Europol and the Netherlands hosted an OSINT hackathon in The Hague to identify and trace transferred or deported children. Information about 45 children was uncovered and shared with the Ukrainian authorities. This was the third event of its kind, and the second specifically focused on Ukrainian children - complementing Ukraine’s own efforts, which have documented over 19,500 cases.

Mr Chair,
As confirmed by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the 2023 OSCE Moscow Mechanism mission, these deportations and transfers amount to grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitute war crimes. The UN Commission of Inquiry has further concluded that they may also constitute crimes against humanity.
The Netherlands therefore joins the European Union in calling on the Russian Federation and Belarus to:
1. immediately end deportation and forcible transfer;
2. cease illegal adoptions, guardianship or “re-education” aimed at severing children’s ties with their families and identity;
3. provide full, transparent and verifiable information on all affected children; and
4. ensure their immediate, safe and dignified return to Ukraine.
Within the OSCE, the Moscow Mechanism remains a crucial tool to establish facts, document violations and support accountability. The Netherlands strongly supports its continued use and encourages all participating States to follow up on its findings.

Mr Chair,
The forcible transfer and deportation of children strikes at the heart of our values that the OSCE is meant to uphold. The Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine in locating, identifying and returning all affected children, including through Europol and other cooperation channels, and by contributing to international and national accountability mechanisms.
To this end, the Netherlands has allocated an additional EUR 2 million to support identification through DNA analysis, family reunification and mental health care. We are also grateful to the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and to the European Commission for hosting a dedicated ministerial conference on the 11th of May.
We will continue to raise this issue in this organisation and beyond, in line with the December UN General Assembly resolution, until every Ukrainian child who has been unlawfully taken is safely back home.
Thank you.