Indoctrination, Identity Erasure and Militarisation: How to protect children in occupied territories

Crimea plays a crucial role in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Over the course of 10 years, the territory of Crimea has been transformed into a military base used for further advancement into Ukrainian territory. Cultural and historical landmarks have been destroyed, and practices now implemented across all occupied territories include kidnapping, political persecution, unlawful imprisonment, torture, deportation of children, destruction of identity, and militarization of children and youth. The “Crimean scenario” has de facto become a manual for establishing an occupation regime in territories occupied after February 2022.

The Russian Federation has paid special attention to children and youth in the occupied territories. Over the same 10-year period, Russia has constructed a “system of destruction of identity,” which includes indoctrination, militarization, propaganda of war, and service in the Russian Armed Forces. Russia seeks to transform children who remain in the occupied territories into “Russian patriots” who will be used as mobilization reserves in Russia’s wars. Various actors are involved in this process, including the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, Russian universities, occupation administrations, youth organizations, schools, and others.

Mariia Sulialina is the recipient of this year’s Civil Rights Defender of the Year award. Sulialina is the head of the Ukrainian human rights organization Almenda, which is dedicated to documenting and drawing attention to war crimes and other grave human rights violations committed in Ukraine. She gives voice to the Ukrainian children in the occupied territories who are subjected to indoctrination and militarization and who are at risk of deportation to Russia.

The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award recognizes outstanding work in the defense of civil and political rights. It is awarded every year by Civil Rights Defenders.