Every morning at 9 am, Ukraine observes a daily moment of silence, a nationwide act of remembrance for those killed in Russia's ongoing war. For one minute, city streets fall silent, traffic lights turn red, and cars stop. This solemn pause is a tribute to the lives lost and a reminder of the thousands of families still waiting for their loved ones to return. Among them are Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred and unlawfully deported by Russia, separated from their families and communities.
The plight of these individuals is dire. Many Ukrainian children who have been deported have had their core identity stripped away, including their language, culture, and even their names. Civilians unlawfully detained in Russian-occupied territories have faced severe consequences for teaching their language, practicing their culture, or speaking out against occupation. Some have been transferred to detention facilities in Russia, where they are held without due process, denied contact with loved ones, and deprived of adequate medical care.
Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian custody face similarly concerning conditions. Returnees have reported harsh treatment, while independent bodies have documented widespread abuse, including torture and sexual violence. These actions are repeated and well-documented violations of international law, carried out at scale, in an attempt to bend the will of the Ukrainian people. The human cost of Russia's actions is evident in the stories of families waiting for their loved ones to return.
To address this humanitarian crisis, Canada, Norway, and Ukraine will convene foreign ministers and international partners in Toronto on September 28-29 for the Pathways to Peace conference. The conference aims to support Ukraine's efforts to return, rehabilitate, and reintegrate Ukrainian deported children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war. This initiative builds on the progress made at a previous ministerial conference hosted by the three countries in Canada in 2024.
The return of these individuals is a humanitarian imperative and critical to any peace process, helping to build trust and lay the groundwork for a just, lasting, and dignified peace. Every person returned reunites a family, and every family reunited strengthens a community. The conference seeks to mobilize the international community to act alongside Ukraine to help bring home every deported child, detained civilian, and prisoner of war.
The Pathways to Peace conference is a crucial step towards addressing the immense task of returning and rehabilitating those affected by Russia's actions. Success requires sustained cooperation among governments, international organizations, humanitarian actors, and civil society. By working together, the international community can help Ukraine rebuild and strengthen its communities, which have been torn apart by Russian aggression.
The ambassadors of Canada, Norway, and Ukraine to South Africa – HE James Christoff, HE Anne Beathe Kristiansen, and HE Scherba Olexander – have emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing this humanitarian crisis. They hope that the Pathways to Peace conference will inspire the international community to act alongside Ukraine in remembrance and solidarity, working towards a just and lasting peace.
Key points
- The Pathways to Peace conference aims to support Ukraine's efforts to return, rehabilitate, and reintegrate Ukrainian deported children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war.
- The return of these individuals is a humanitarian imperative and critical to any peace process, helping to build trust and lay the groundwork for a just, lasting, and dignified peace.
- The conference seeks to mobilize the international community to act alongside Ukraine to help bring home every deported child, detained civilian, and prisoner of war.
