The Return of Deported Children: What Does the Global South Think?
The Media Initiative for Human Rights has prepared an analytical note based on a survey conducted among participants of the international conference Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South. The survey assessed the level of public awareness in their countries and their willingness to support the implementation of Point 4 of President Zelenskyi’s Peace Formula — the return of all deported children, prisoners of war, and civilians from Russian captivity.
The survey included respondents from Brazil, Argentina, and the Philippines — countries whose representatives had previously participated in Crimea Global conferences held in Kyiv in 2023–2024. Most respondents said they had learned about the issue of deported Ukrainian children for the first time during this event. This highlights both the low level of awareness in non-Western societies about violations of international humanitarian and criminal law committed by Russia and the potential of such formats — forums and conferences — for fostering dialogue and partnership.
A particularly valuable response came from an Argentinian participant, who drew parallels with the forced disappearances of people (including children) in Argentina during the 1970s. Argentina has well-established DNA identification mechanisms for the missing. Given the country’s involvement in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, the respondent believes this experience could be helpful for cooperating with Ukraine on the search for deported individuals.
The survey results showed that the political neutrality or isolationism of certain countries — particularly Brazil and the Philippines — hinders the advancement of this issue within the realm of public diplomacy. At the same time, there are encouraging signals from South Africa, where the Bring Kids Back UA conference was held in November 2024. Civil society representatives there issued joint statements with Ukrainian partners calling for the return of deported children.
The recommendations outlined in the analytical note include holding regional forums dedicated to implementing Point 4 of the Peace Formula, more active engagement of local media and influential figures to disseminate information, strengthening the international visibility of stories from Ukrainian families affected by deportation or captivity, and fostering partnerships with countries that have had similar experiences and can share established approaches — such as Argentina.
The full version of the report is available here.
