War Crimes In Ukraine Conference: The Abduction and Deportation of Children

This Conference will address the ongoing war in Ukraine with a particular focus on the war crime of abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russian authorities. Over the past year, Russian authorities have willfully separated Ukrainian children from their families and have orchestrated a policy whereby such children are adopted by Russian families. The forcible abduction and deportation of children is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; moreover, it is also illegal under customary international law and can amount to genocide, if committed with the intent to destroy a particular national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, alleging their responsibility for the unlawful transfer of children during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Conference will focus on the ongoing International Criminal Court’s investigation into the war crime of abducting and deporting children, as well as on other relevant international law issues related to imposing accountability on Putin or Lvova-Belova. Moreover, the Conference will discuss military ethical issues associated with the abduction and deportation of children. The Conference will feature several prominent live speakers, as well as pre-recorded remarks by Ukrainian experts.

The Conference will be followed by a live auction, musical entertainment, as well as food and refreshments in the law school Atrium.

Speakers:

Welcome: Dean Lee Fisher, CSU College of Law

Moderator: Professor Milena Sterio, CSU College of Law

Keynote Speaker: Ambassador Stephen Rapp

Panelists:

Co-Dean Michael Scharf (CWRU School of Law)

Mykola Kuleba

Roman Sheremeta

Former U.S. Ambassador Clint Williamson

CLE Credit (pending)

The Conference is co-sponsored by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs , Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and The City Club of Cleveland.

Host or Publisher Cleveland State University College of Law