As we reach the grim mark of 365 days of war in Ukraine, Terre des Hommes (TDH) urges the International Community to make every effort to help secure peace for the children of Ukraine whose lives are at risk, whose rights are being undermined, and who are living in very harsh conditions, with ongoing insecurity and uncertainty about the future.
As a young boy in Terre des Hommes’ child-friendly space in Bucharest wrote to his dad in Ukraine: “I want to come back and see you there. I know it’s not possible, mum said we still need to wait here a while. I wish I knew what we are waiting for …”.
With no sign of an end to the war in sight, the International Community must adapt and plan to support children, young people and their families with long-term protection and social services. This support should be tailored to the individual needs of each child, with consideration for their age, gender, and diversity, and crucially, it should be defined in partnership with children and young people.