Secretary General Alain Berset has appointed Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir (Iceland) as his Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine. She will raise awareness of the challenges faced by the children of Ukraine and of the Council of Europe’s standards and initiatives to support them, foster international co-operation and ensure internal co-ordination, including with the Register of Damage caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine.
“The plight of the children of Ukraine remains a priority for the Council of Europe - and for me personally,” the Secretary General said. “Since the start of the war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine almost three years ago, millions of children have been forced to flee Ukraine. Thousands were unlawfully deported to Russia or to the areas it temporarily controls or occupies. Those who have remained in Ukraine continue to suffer immensely from the ongoing war. What I witnessed in Ukraine last December, and all I have heard since taking office, has only strengthened my resolve to ensure the strongest possible protection of Ukrainian children — both in Ukraine and across Council of Europe member states. That is why today's appointment of the Special Envoy is so important."
Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir brings a wealth of experience in international politics and law. Until December 2024, she occupied several ministerial posts in the Government of Iceland and notably served as Minister for Foreign Affairs during the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2023.
“I am grateful and honoured to be entrusted with the role of Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the situation of children of Ukraine. I look forward to supporting the important work of the Secretary General on this issue and will do my utmost to contribute to securing and protecting the rights of children of Ukraine and to serving the wider cause of its people,” Gylfadóttir said. “We have a collective duty to stand by those children who were hit the hardest by Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
Guided by the Reykjavik Declaration and the Declaration on the Situation of the Children of Ukraine adopted at the Reykjavik Summit in May 2023, and by the relevant Council of Europe standards, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine shall, in particular:
- Raise awareness of the challenges faced by the children of Ukraine and promote Council of Europe standards, initiatives and activities in support of children of Ukraine, both internally and externally;
- Ensure internal co-ordination and cooperation with all Council of Europe relevant entities, including the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine and the Register of Damage;
- Foster international co-operation and identify opportunities for synergies with international partners. This includes representing the Secretary General in international events and liaising with international partners, such as the Coalition for the return of children of Ukraine;
- Suggest ways of enhancing the Council of Europe activities in supporting the children of Ukraine.
The Special Envoy will report to the Secretary General and provide regular information to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the activities in support of children of Ukraine, including on the implementation of the Reykjavík Declaration.
Curriculum Vitae of Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir
