Madam Chair,
Canada and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
Norway, together with Ukraine and Canada, has taken the initiative to convene a ministerial conference on the human dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula, to be hosted in Canada at the end of October.
This ministerial conference will bring together foreign ministers to advance the common vision articulated in the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework developed at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. It seeks to build upon and enhance the efforts of the Working Group under Pillar 4 of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula, as well as the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
Madam Chair,
Norway and Canada stand united with the international community in addressing the grave findings detailed in the last two Moscow Mechanism reports on Ukraine, presented in this very room in May of this year. Since the onset of Russian aggression in 2014, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been unlawfully detained under unjustifiable accusations. These acts are not only breaches of international law but also indicative of a broader strategy of intimidation, suppression, and control.
In line with the experts' recommendations, Norway has been working for the establishment of mechanisms that will provide effective remedies for victims, including compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.
As highlighted by the Moscow Mechanism experts, we also need to continue to support the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross and respect their need to operate neutrally. At the same time we believe it may be opportune establishing a group of "protective powers" to facilitate assistance to and exchanges of detainees.
We hope that the ministerial conference in Canada will serve as an ample opportunity to develop an action plan or roadmap to sharpen our efforts. It is crucial that we strive for the widest possible geographical support to enhance the impact of our initiatives.
Thank you.