We, the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, are a professional organization dedicated to advancing the care of children with neurosurgical conditions and educating those responsible for delivering that care across the world. We are also an interconnected community of colleagues and friends across the world, including in Ukraine and Russia.
As such, it is impossible for us to be silent in the face of the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Ukraine. We believe it is our responsibility, not only as a professional society, but also as moral beings committed to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and protecting the vulnerable against violent acts, to speak out strongly against the military invasion of Ukraine. While we acknowledge that all disputes contain layers of complexity, and we respect the fact that even some of our colleagues in Russia may hold different views, we do not believe that there is any justification for such military aggression that leads to loss of property, liberty, and life. The world is poorer and less safe for it. The most vulnerable – children – are its greatest victims.
We believe that a diplomatic solution must be sought, we encourage the international community to stand united in their opposition, and we call on Russia to immediately cease their hostilities.
We invite our colleagues, national and regional paediatric neurosurgery societies to join us and express their support to the above statement.
The Japanese Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (JSPN) expresses its support to the ISPN statement >>
