On 9 July 2025, the Council of Europe will host a high-level stocktaking conference and thematic hearing on the situation of children in Ukraine. Organised by the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) in cooperation with the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, this event aims to strengthen coordinated action for the protection of children affected by war.
High-level speakers will include Mr Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Michael Falzon, Malta’s Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, Ms Mariana Betsa, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ms Oleksandra Matviichuk (online), and Mr Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage. Discussions will focus on the psychological impact of war, the destruction of infrastructure, and the need for child-centred recovery.
The afternoon thematic hearing will then explore the heightened risks facing children with disabilities in Ukraine. Experts and civil society will address challenges in access to services, protection from trafficking, and inclusive policymaking. Malta’s Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability, Ms Rhoda Garland, will also contribute to the session. This conference will reflect Presidency’s strong commitment to placing the rights of Ukraine’s children at the forefront of international action.
