Juvenile Prevention Day in Ukraine Date in the current year: July 8, 2025

The National Police of Ukraine’s juvenile prevention units, also known as juvenile police, are responsible for protecting children’s rights and preventing juvenile delinquency. There is a common misconception that they only work with underage offenders. While preventing juvenile delinquency is indeed one of their main tasks, the responsibilities of the Ukrainian juvenile police are much broader, ultimately focusing on protecting children’s rights.

For instance, juvenile police officers are involved in preventing and investigating not only offenses committed by children, but also those committed against children, including cases of domestic and sexual abuse. They often work with social services to visit children facing challenging life circumstances. If necessary, juvenile police officers help remove children from unfit parents and provide these children with all the protection and assistance they need.

Additionally, juvenile police officers play an active role in searching for missing children and teenagers. They are also help combat bullying, support families in crisis, and teach safety lessons in kindergartens and schools.

Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the role of juvenile police officers has become particularly important as they provide attention, care, and support to those who need it most. They help evacuate families with children from regions near the frontlines and work with children from internally displaced families. Together with volunteers, they provide these children with clothes, toys, and other essential items.

Juvenile Prevention Day is celebrated in Ukraine on July 8, commemorating the establishment of the Criminal Militsiya for Children on this day in 1995. Established to prevent crime among children and adolescents under the age of 18, the Criminal Militsiya for Children was part of the Criminal Militsiya of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

In 2014, Ukraine began reforming its law enforcement system by replacing the militsiya with the National Police of Ukraine, which was officially established on July 2, 2015. The Criminal Militsiya for Children transformed into a juvenile prevention unit within the newly established National Police. Internal instructions regulating the work of the National Police’s juvenile prevention units were officially approved in 2017.

On Juvenile Prevention Day, Ukraine’s juvenile police officers are recognized for their professional achievements and thanked for their hard work. In many ways, the well-being of Ukrainian children depends on them. Police officers join the juvenile prevention unit because they feel called to protect the rights and interests of children who are not yet able to protect themselves due to their age.