November 1, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Mélanie Joly, yesterday concluded the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula, which she co-organized in Montreal with the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs , Andrii Sybiha, and the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide.
During the conference, ministers announced the Montreal Commitment: concrete measures to help the return of prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians and deported children, including support for the reintegration of these people into their daily life.
Minister Joly hosted foreign ministers and high-level representatives from more than 70 countries and international organizations to advance Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula, identify diplomatic approaches to address the human dimension of the war and to strengthen the International Coalition for the repatriation of Ukrainian children. The minister chaired a session dedicated to identifying strategies to increase the exchange of information on the location, health and legal status of prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians and children. deported.
Poignant testimonies from a detained Ukrainian military doctor, the wife of an imprisoned journalist and a former prisoner of war, collected during the conference, provided a powerful reminder of the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
As co-chair of Working Group 4 and leader of the International Coalition for the Repatriation of Ukrainian Children, Minister Joly thanked Qatar, South Africa and the Holy See for their offer to serve as intermediaries in order to support and negotiate the return of children. She also thanked the UAE for the role it continues to play in mediating exchanges of prisoners of war. Finally, she expressed her gratitude to Norway, Lithuania and Qatar, who offered to provide a favorable environment for Ukrainians returning home.
During the conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed representatives from various states who came together to find diplomatic solutions and concrete measures to protect the Ukrainian people.
