Yale-Led Child Abduction Tracking Group Shuts Down After Funding Cut
The Ukraine Conflict Observatory, a Yale-led initiative tracking alleged Russian war crimes, including the abduction of over 30,000 Ukrainian children, is ceasing operations due to funding cuts. The Observatory has transferred its crucial data to the Ukrainian government, the US State Department, and Europol to support future war crimes prosecutions. This closure creates a significant gap in monitoring child abductions, as the Observatory’s work uniquely supported six ICC indictments against Russia. Despite congressional efforts to restore funding, the initiative’s future remains uncertain, jeopardizing ongoing efforts to locate and return abducted children.
John Q. Hosedrinker