The Human Dimension Conference on the Peace Formula should be used as a platform to ensure that there is a clear commitment from some of the countries officially playing a mediating role in the return of Ukrainian children, said Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this important project, but this is not the beginning and this is not the end. The goal is to continue. We want to use this conference to make sure that we have a clear commitment with some countries that play a mediating role, officially. And also to have countries that play a safe passage role when children leave Russia to eventually go to Ukraine,” she said at the Human Dimension Ministerial Conference on the Peace Formula.

Joly stressed that “we are working on this formula and we are deeply convinced that this formula can be used in the context of Ukraine, but also in other conflicts.”

“As we know that there is a very complex and heartbreaking conflict going on in the Middle East, and there is another one in Sudan, and of course there are many other conflicts around the world,” she added.

The Minister recalled that Canada and Ukraine decided in February of this year to work on the return of children and launch this initiative.

She also thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his support of the initiative, which Canada co-chaired with Norway.

"All over Europe and in Canada, I saw so many children who were victims of war. I don't have children, at least not yet. But I think that every child who returns to Ukraine will be a victory," Joly said.

As reported, on February 2, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who arrived in Kyiv on a visit, announced the creation of a new international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally transferred to the Russian Federation. Joly explained that within the framework of the said international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children, Canada will use its diplomatic network around the world to “communicate as if these children were Canadian children.”

On October 30-31, a ministerial conference on the human dimension of the Peace Formula is being held in Montreal (Canada). The conference is aimed at implementing the fourth point of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, "Release of all prisoners and deportees." As reported by the President's Office, the goal of the event is to create a roadmap with practical solutions to ensure all stages of the return of prisoners and deportees: prisoners of war, civilian hostages, and deported children.