A/RES/ES-11/9 GA

United Nations A/RES/ES-11/9 General Assembly Distr.: General 3 December 2025 25-19855 (E) *2519855* Eleventh emergency special session Agenda item 5 Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2025 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/ES-11/L.16/Rev.1)] ES-11/9. Return of Ukrainian children The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and recalling its resolutions adopted at its eleventh emergency special session and all relevant Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, Reaffirming the importance of its resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989, by which it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1 as the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, as well as the Optional Protocols thereto,2 and underlining that, in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration, Reaffirming also that all parties to armed conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including the Charter, international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable, to protect children affected by armed conflict from violations and abuses, to ensure protection, care, family reunification and rapid and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance, and to hold perpetrators accountable, Expressing deep concern about the impact of the war on children, in particular the fate of all Ukrainian children who have been separated from their families since 2014, including those forcibly transferred within the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and those deported to the Russian Federation, in violation of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 19493 and Additional Protocol I __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 2 Ibid., vols. 2171, 2173 and 2983, No. 27531. 3 Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970–973. A/RES/ES-11/9 Return of Ukrainian children 25-19855 2/3 thereto of 1977, 4 which prohibit individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupying Power, regardless of their motive, Urging States to comply with all obligations under international law relating to the reunification of families separated by armed conflict and to supply to the Central Tracing Agency of the International Committee of the Red Cross information concerning persons reported missing and inform the family members of their whereabouts when such information is available, Deploring the legislative and administrative measures taken by the Russian Federation since 2022 that simplify the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainian children, particularly orphans, children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied children, Noting that the unlawful deportation and unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation is the subject of ongoing international legal proceedings, Stressing the need to investigate and ensure accountability for those responsible for forcible transfers and deportations of children, in accordance with international law, Expressing support for the efforts by various Member States and international organizations in ensuring the prompt, safe and unconditional return of forcibly transferred and deported Ukrainian children to Ukraine, in accordance with the best interests of the child, and supporting their subsequent rehabilitation and reintegration, including access to healthcare, psychosocial support and education programmes, and noting the efforts of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in this regard, Deploring the practice of forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children, and the separation of families and of children from legal guardians, and any subsequent forced change of children’s personal status, their citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and efforts to indoctrinate them, in clear violation of international law, Encouraging all efforts aimed at achieving a resolution of the war as soon as possible through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the Charter, 1. Demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported; 2. Urges the Russian Federation to cease, without delay, any further practice of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families and legal guardians, change of personal status, including through citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to exercise his good offices, including through his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, to remain actively seized of the matter, and to take all steps necessary, including within the Secretariat, with a view to: (a) Ensuring the effective coordination of all relevant United Nations bodies with regard to the implementation of the present resolution; __________________ 4 Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. Return of Ukrainian children A/RES/ES-11/9 3/3 25-19855 (b) Engaging with the Russian Federation to facilitate the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported, inter alia by obtaining full information on their current whereabouts, well- being, legal status and health conditions, including children in institutional care and those placed within Russian families; (c) Ensuring unimpeded access for United Nations entities and other relevant international monitoring and humanitarian organizations to verify the situation of Ukrainian children, safeguard their rights and well-being, and take all measures necessary to secure their immediate, safe and unconditional return to Ukraine; (d) Ensuring that Member States are regularly informed of these efforts; 4. Decides to adjourn the eleventh emergency special session of the General Assembly temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly to resume its meetings upon request from Member States. 22nd plenary meeting 3 December 2025

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