Ukraine, European Commission discuss protection of Ukrainian children's rights in EU

MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Social Policy Minister Maryna Lazebna has met with European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Suica in Brussels to discuss the protection of rights of the Ukrainian children displaced to EU countries.

The sides also discussed the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, recently ratified by Ukraine, and the prospect of Ukraine's ratification of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, Ukrainian media outlets said with the reference to the press service of the Social Policy Ministry.

The minister pointed to problems with the protection of rights of the displaced Ukrainian children from at-risk categories in particular EU countries and presented the European Commission vice-president with a summary of cases in which children's right were breached, so that they are discussed with EU countries and resolved and so that such violations are prevented in the future.

The sides agreed that Ukraine should begin the reforms required for its European integration immediately, alongside the recovery efforts.

"We have proposed a new vision and specific steps in shifting from social protection to social wellbeing and society of equal opportunities," Lazebna said.