Protect and Prioritize Every Child in Ukraine
Years of war have devastated children’s lives, wellbeing and development. Investment in children and young people today is non-negotiable for their futures and that of Ukraine.
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The Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified by Ukraine just four days after gaining independence in August 1991. Since then, despite challenges, much progress has been made in improving child wellbeing and achieving child specific targets on 15 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Life expectancy at birth improved, as did under-1 and under-5 mortality ratios, and access to education. Ukraine ratified major international conventions upholding children’s rights, adopted legislation and frameworks on equal rights and opportunities, and on combatting and preventing domestic abuse and gender-based violence, and protecting survivors. Between 2020 and 2021, Ukraine entered the high category of the Human Development Index, recognizing the advances made, including for every child.
War has eroded that progress and reversed many of these gains. Gross violations of children’s rights, including killings and maiming of children and the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and systems that children rely on, such as energy, water, heating and sanitation, have devasted young lives, while the mass displacement of children within and outside the country has upended childhoods.
Today, the survival and development of every child in Ukraine is at stake.
UNICEF and Government of Ukraine’s joint plan for 2025 – 2029 for Ukraine, developed during wartime, recognizes the intergenerational consequences of the humanitarian and human capital crises if the needs of the most vulnerable children are not met.
The goal is for all children in Ukraine to grow up in safe, nurturing and enabling environments that empower children to realize their rights, which responds to those most deprived, leaves no child behind.
A time to ‘Protect and Prioritize’ sets out a series of actions to improve the lives of children in Ukraine through child- and youth-centered humanitarian action and development.
Collective and urgent evidence-based action is needed in the next five years to drive progress, even during the horrors of war. UNICEF calls on all partners, from national and local government and international partners to the private sector, academia and civil society, as well as caregivers, children and young people themselves, to act, speak out and prioritize the fulfillment of child rights as a best investment in the country’s future.
UNICEF is building on the extraordinary resilience and resolve of people across the country to place child rights at the core of humanitarian, recovery, reconstruction, and reform efforts. The approach leverages the momentum of the European Union accession in the best interest of the new generation.
Action is needed across core areas that include tackling the direct impact of the war, while delivering integrated services for children and their families in line with their rights and needs.
1. Peace, for every child.
In 2025, children in Ukraine need a real and sustained peace in which every child can realize their rights. Where they are in safe and protected environments to recover from the horrors of war and to develop, learn and thrive again to actively contribute to sustainable development efforts.
2. Protect every child from the ongoing impact of war.
- End grave violations against children and protect them from harm by respecting international humanitarian and human rights law.
- Protect civilian infrastructure on which children rely, such as health facilities, schools, social services, water and sanitation, heating and energy infrastructure.
- Ensure humanitarian access to every child in need, wherever they may be.
3. Prioritize every child in recovery efforts.
- Ensure that recovery and reconstruction plans and budget allocations prioritize children and their best interests now and, in the days, months and years to come.
- Build shock-responsive and climate resilient systems, including water and sanitation, protection, health and education to provide quality and inclusive services for children and their caregivers.
- Empower children and young people to play an active role in civic life, to have their voices heard to influence policies, and to nurture their creativity, skills and aspirations as the nation’s human capital.
4. Better Start to Life, for every child
Invest in early childhood development for higher returns later in life.
- Strengthen the health system to prevent maternal and child mortality by providing high-quality and equitable home and facility-based services for mothers and the youngest children.
- Promote and increase exclusive breastfeeding and vaccination rates, prevent abandonment and timely identify children and families in need of additional support, including for children with disabilities
- Improve access to quality and inclusive early childhood care and education services which empower caregivers to help children develop and thrive.
5. Better Learning and Skills, for every child
Equip children and young people with the knowledge and skills to participate in and contribute to Ukraine’s sustainable recovery.
- Build an education system that is inclusive for every child through deliberate planning and committed financing at national and decentralized levels.
- Scale-up access to safe and conducive in-person schooling which comprehensively addresses learning losses and children’s mental health and wellbeing.
- Strengthen educators’ capacity to deliver quality and relevant learning that builds skills, while fostering opportunities for the transition into working lives.
6. Better Care, for every child
Prioritize safe and nurturing family-based care, focusing on the most vulnerable children.
- Strengthen families and keep them together by addressing child poverty and investing in social and child protection systems and services.
- Expand and improve family-based alternatives to institutions for children without parental care.
- Reintegrate every child returned to the country or still living institutions into family care.
