By joining this coalition, co-led by Ukraine and Canada, the government of President José Raúl Mulino and Chancellor Javier Martínez-Acha send a clear message: the defense of human rights knows no borders, and the theft of children is a crime that global conscience cannot tolerate. In the heart of every nation lies its future: its children. Every time a Ukrainian child returns home and hears their native language, humanity triumphs over barbarism. We will not stop until every child is where they belong: with their family, in their homeland, safe and free. The author is the Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine in the Republic of Panama. But there is a decision that resonates with special ethical force: the adherence of the Republic of Panama to the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Panama, the “Bridge of the World,” has decided to be a bridge of hope for the most vulnerable. Their place is not in a re-education camp in the remote corners of Russia, but in the embrace of their family in Ukraine. In accordance with the report published on March 12, 2026, by the UN International Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities, as well as enforced disappearances, constitute crimes against humanity. The recent visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the official inauguration of the Embassy in the City of Panama mark a significant advance in bilateral relations. The return of our children is a condition for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. Russia provides no information about these children to Ukraine or international organizations, which complicates their location and data verification. The forced deportation of minors is a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The coalition works on critical fronts that now have Panamanian support: tracking the whereabouts of children whose names and nationalities have been illegally altered; coordinating with humanitarian organizations and Ukrainian families on search, identification, and reunification mechanisms; and preparing psychological and social support for those who manage to return after being subjected to indoctrination processes. Ukraine does not forget those who stand by its side. Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale aggression, thousands of Ukrainian children have been torn from their homes, separated from their families, and forcibly transferred to Russian territory or temporarily occupied zones. Many of them suffer from deep psychological trauma. The friendship between the peoples of Ukraine and Panama has just written a historic page. They are not “evacuated,” as the aggressor's propaganda claims; they are victims of a systematic attempt to erase their identity, their language, and their love for their homeland. To date, around 20,000 cases of illegal deportations and forced transfers of Ukrainian children have been registered, although the real figures could be much higher. No child should be a war trophy. In these dark times, Panama's voice in the Central American region is vital. However, for Ukraine, that future has been wounded in the cruelest way imaginable. Not only has a Roadmap 2026-2029 been signed to deepen bilateral cooperation, but a moral commitment has been sealed. We are deeply grateful to the Panamanian people for not being indifferent.
