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Forced Passportization and Mobilization in Occupied Territories: How Violations of Rights Destroy the Lives of Families
In the occupied territories, people are increasingly finding themselves faced with a choice without a choice. And that choice has a price – safety, freedom, and sometimes even life
Russia is systematically implementing practices of imposed citizenship in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Obtaining a Russian passport is becoming a condition for access to basic necessities: medical care, work, social benefits, and education for children.
Formally, this is presented as an “administrative procedure.” In essence, it is coercion disguised as a necessity for survival.
At the same time, cases of forced mobilization of men are being documented. People are being confronted with a fait accompli: either service, or the risk of persecution, restrictions, or isolation. Such practices directly contradict the norms of international humanitarian law.
Violations of Rights: What Lies Behind These Practices
International humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, clearly stipulates that the civilian population in occupied territories must be protected.
It is prohibited to:
- compel civilians to serve in the armed forces of the occupying power (Article 51);
- deprive them of their legal status and protection as a result of occupation (Article 47);
- violate their right to humane treatment and safety (Article 27).
What is happening today in the occupied territories is contrary to these norms. People are effectively being placed in a situation where the possibility of living outside the imposed system is gradually narrowing.
Control Instead of Governance
Here, passportization goes beyond the issuance of documents and becomes an instrument of control.
Through it, the occupation authorities:
- track people’s movements;
- determine access to services;
- create dependence on their decisions.
Mobilization is an even harsher mechanism. It draws civilians into a war against their own State and destroys the basic sense of safety.
This affects not only individuals — but entire communities.
Gender Dimension: The Unequal Burden of War
These processes affect women and men differently.
Men face the direct threat of mobilization. For many, this means living in constant fear: of checks, detention, and forced transfer to military units.
At the same time, women take on responsibilities that were previously shared. They provide for the family, make difficult decisions, and interact with occupation structures — often with no alternative.
This is compounded by economic instability, exhaustion, and responsibility for children and elderly relatives.
In the reality of occupation, it is women who bear the greatest responsibility and burden.
Families Living Under Pressure
Forced passportization and mobilization significantly change the lives of families.
Some leave. Some stay. Some agree to obtain documents in order to survive. Some refuse — and pay for it through restrictions.
These decisions are rarely unanimous. They create tension, divide families, and accumulate exhaustion and fear.
In such conditions, children grow up faster. Differently. In a world where stability is the exception.
Civil Society: Work That Is Not Always Visible
In a situation where people are left alone to face the pressure of the occupation system, civil society organizations play an important role.
They document violations, help find solutions in difficult circumstances, and support families after they leave the occupied territories. This includes legal assistance, psychological support, and simply being present at the moment when a person does not know where to turn.
A separate role belongs to women’s organizations. It is they who often work with the experiences that remain “outside the statistics”: exhaustion, responsibility for the family, and the consequences of prolonged stress.
In the occupied territories, people are increasingly finding themselves faced with a choice without a choice. And that choice has a price — safety, freedom, and sometimes even life.
Counter–Trafficking NGO CoalitionPress Service
Why This Must Not Be Silenced
Forced passportization and mobilization are not isolated decisions or administrative practices.
They are a way of influencing people through dependence, fear, and restriction of choice. In such conditions, it is not only everyday life that changes — the sense of safety, trust, and future also changes.
That is why this issue goes beyond the legal sphere. It is about how war penetrates private life and changes it.
What Is Important Now
Support for families who have experienced the pressure of occupation cannot be fragmented — it requires a systemic approach.
This concerns both strengthening the work of civil society organizations that are already helping people and increasing attention from international partners. It is equally important to take into account the different experiences of women and men, as their needs after such experiences differ.
People must be at the centre of these decisions — with their stories, losses, and attempts to rebuild a normal life.
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