Canada’s Statement to the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine

4 December, 2024 - New York City, New York

Statement delivered by H.E. Ambassador Bob Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations to the UN

Madam President,

I thank our briefers, Executive Director Russell, Mr Raymond and Ms Rashevska, for their briefings, and to Ms Zarivna of Ukraine for giving us such an important presentation today.

I begin by reaffirming Canada’s unwavering support to Ukraine, consistent with its inherent right to defend itself, as enshrined in the UN Charter. Our meeting today highlights a profound threat to Ukraine’s future, to its children.

I also want to say that from Canada’s own history we know something of the terrible consequences of children being taken from their own families either to residential schools or for adoption. It is part of our own history, from which we are trying to learn from and are still recovering from. Because the trauma of these events is with us still.

150 years ago, the purpose of the policy at the time was described as the need to take the Indian out of the child. Let us not make the mistake of trying to take the Ukrainian out of the child. Children are entitled to their identity, their language, their culture – they are entitled to be home.

As the Secretary General has reported, Russia has exposed Ukraine’s children to all six grave violations of children in armed conflict through its invasion, and many have been forced to flee their homes under constant threat of attack.

Russia has exploited this situation to unlawfully deport and transfer thousands of Ukrainian children into Russia, under the pretense of providing protection.

 As we’ve heard from the Yale School of Public Health today, Russia’s unlawful actions towards Ukraine’s children have been organized at the highest levels.

They’ve shown hundreds of Ukrainian children have been placed into Russia’s systematic program of coerced adoption and fostering.

This report is just the tip of the iceberg. Canada is aware of reports that thousands more Ukrainian children may be impacted, subjected to re-education camps and even forced to take on new russified names.

Madam President,

Last October, Canada, together with Norway and Ukraine, hosted in Montréal a Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula.

My Prime Minister welcomed representatives from 73 international organisations and states from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, to find concrete ways to return all prisoners of war, as well as unlawfully detained civilians and deported or forcibly transferred children.

54 states have endorsed the Montréal Pledge launched at the Conference a common commitment to collective action in sharing information about detainees, ensuring lawful releases and maintaining humane treatment, including as they return to their communities and face the lifelong consequences of this war.

Madame President,

Ukraine’s Peace Formula is underpinned by the key principles of respect for the UN charter and upholding international law. Without these key principles, and the engagement of all parties, it will not be possible to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

In addition to resolving conflict between two countries, we need to remember the human consequences of this truly terrible conflict.

It also centres those who have suffered most from this unnecessary war, this war of choice, this war of such enormous cost and tragedy. It centres on children. Any peace agreement in Ukraine that does not adhere to the UN charter and international law would in effect erase its victims and have grave implications for international peace and security in all corners of the world.

Canada remains committed to working with Ukraine and with all member states to achieve the objectives of peace, of reconciliation, of justice and above all, doing the right thing for children.

Thank you.