UNITED NATIONS, United States: The UN General Assembly on Wednesday called for the immediate and unconditional return of Ukrainian children “forcibly transferred” to Russia — a delicate issue as Kyiv and Moscow try to negotiate an end to the fighting.
The assembly adopted the non-binding resolution by a vote of 91-12, with 57 abstentions. Russia was among the states rejecting the measure.
The resolution “demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported.”
It also calls on Moscow 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.”
Ukraine has accused Russia of abducting at least 20,000 Ukrainian children since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
Mariana Betsa, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister, said Russia was responsible for “the largest state abduction operation in history.” So far, more than 1,850 children have been found and returned home.
“There will be no just peace in Ukraine without the immediate unconditional return of our children back home,” Betsa said from the podium before the vote.
While Russia admits that some children were taken from combat zones for their own protection, Moscow’s deputy UN envoy Maria Zabolotskaya slammed the resolution as “full of mendacious accusations.”
“Each vote for the resolution is a support for lies, war, and confrontation. Every voice against is a vote for peace,” she said.
The vote in the UN General Assembly came as the United States — which voted for the resolution — tries to get both Russia and Ukraine to agree to its plan to end the war.
But efforts to find a compromise have repeatedly stalled, while on the front lines, the Russian military continues to slowly advance — albeit with significant losses.
US President Donald Trump initially gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until November 27 to respond to his latest plan, which would have included the ceding of Ukrainian territory to Moscow — a non-starter for Kyiv.
But discussions are still ongoing.
Late last month, after talks in Geneva, Zelensky hailed the progress made with US negotiators, notably the inclusion of “extremely sensitive points” such as the return of Ukrainian children he said were abducted by Russia.
For the European Union’s UN envoy, Stavros Lambrinidis, “the abducted children of Ukraine cannot wait for the final outcome, for the Russian decision to stop the war or not.”
Since 2023, the Russian army has been on a UN blacklist that names countries responsible for violating the rights of children in conflict areas, notably because of the apparent abduction of Ukrainian children.
That same year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that he “bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children to Russia.
UN Assembly tells Russia to return captive Ukrainian kids
https://arab.news/zvqqr
UN Assembly tells Russia to return captive Ukrainian kids
- The resolution “demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported”
Report highlights role of British Muslim charitable giving in supporting UK public services
- The study, “Building Britain: British Muslims Giving Back,” finds that donations from British Muslims are helping to bolster overstretched service
LONDON: British Muslim charitable giving is playing an increasingly significant role in supporting frontline public services across the UK, according to a new report by policy and research organization Equi.
The study, “Building Britain: British Muslims Giving Back,” finds that donations from British Muslims are helping to bolster overstretched services, including local councils, the NHS and welfare systems, at a time of growing financial pressure.
The report estimates that Muslim donors contribute around £2.2 billion ($2.9 billion) annually, making them the UK’s most generous community.
This figure is around four times the national giving average and rises to almost 10 times the average among higher earners.
According to the findings, Muslim-led charities are providing a wide range of support, including housing assistance, emergency cash grants, food provision and mental health services, easing demand on statutory services.
Equi points to evidence from 2023 showing that housing support delivered by the National Zakat Foundation helped prevent evictions that would have cost councils an estimated £28.8 million, with every £1 of charitable spending generating £73 in public sector savings.
The report also highlights a generational shift, with younger British Muslims increasingly directing their donations toward domestic causes such as homelessness, child poverty and mental health challenges.
Despite their growing impact, Muslim charities face a number of barriers, including de-banking, restrictive funding rules, securitization measures and what the report describes as limited recognition from government. Equi argues that these challenges are constraining the sector’s ability to maximize its contribution.
“British Muslim giving is not just generosity but a lifeline for public services that needs recognizing,” said Equi Managing Director Prof. Javed Khan.
“From preventing evictions to supporting mental health, these donations are saving millions for the taxpayer and strengthening communities across Britain. The evidence is clear that Muslim-led action is delivering frontline support where the state is struggling,” he added.
Equi is calling on policymakers to engage more closely with Muslim-led charities and to move beyond what it describes as symbolic recognition.
The report recommends measures such as UK-based match-funding schemes and greater faith literacy within policymaking, which it says could unlock billions of pounds in additional domestic spending while maintaining the UK’s global humanitarian commitments.
The study concluded that with greater collaboration between government and Muslim charities, charitable giving could play an even more transformative role in strengthening public services and social cohesion across the country.
