TDC experts Oleksandr Slyvchuk and Alina Rohach participated in international seminars at the University of Concepción in Chile.
The Center for European Studies (CEE), with the leadership of Dr. Paulina Astroza Suarez, an academic from the Department of Public Law of the Faculty, organized three international seminars with the aim of understanding and raising awareness of the humanitarian impacts of the war in Ukraine. These events were held in Santiago, Campus Concepción and Campus Chillán.
The main focus of the discussion centered on the direct impact that the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had on Ukrainian children and youth. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding, both the legal and humanitarian implications of the war and the personal experiences of affected children and youth were addressed.
Oleksandr Slyvchuk and Alina Rohach presented hard data on the reality that Ukraine is living due to the war. The comments were made by Andrea Arístegui, journalist and co-author of the book “Miradas Perdidas, historia de reporteros chilenos en la guerra de Ucrania”, Gonzalo Montaner, journalist and co-author of the same book and Francisco Cox, Lawyer specialized in International Humanitarian Law.
Among the attendees we can highlight the presence of Quentin Weiler, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union in Chile and Hugo Jofré, President of the Chilean Association of Political Science.
One of the highlights was the participation of the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mrs. Louise de Sousa. The United Kingdom, as an essential part of the international coalition supporting Ukraine, has played an active role in the diplomatic, military and humanitarian fields, especially in relation to the protection and return of children affected by the war.
The analyses presented revealed that Ukraine is losing its youth, as thousands of children and adolescents have been forced to flee the country, becoming refugees in Europe and beyond. Another very sensitive issue is the deportation of Ukrainian children to the territory of Russia and Belarus, which presents a major challenge for the future of Ukraine, because there is a danger of losing a large part of a generation, with long-term repercussions for both the country and the region.
The seminars not only provided detailed information about the situation in Ukraine, but also aimed to raise awareness among the local audience about the global repercussions of this war and the relevance of peace at the international level.
TDC is implementing the project with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.
