Thank you.
Part of the weapons of war unfortunately are the children. They are the most vulnerable.
We have documented over 19,000 cases of Ukrainian children who have been forcefully deported to Russia. Some of them already have been illegally adopted by Russian families. Unfortunately, with some of them, 16-year-old boys, we have evidence that they have been sent to the military camps for training, and there is a big risk that Russia will try to send them to the front lines. We are working together with the other partners, and I would like to stress the big role Qatar is playing to help us to return the children.
Unfortunately, only a little more than 600 Ukrainian children have been brought back. In order to enforce diplomatic pressure and awareness, together with Canada, we call on the international coalition to return the Ukrainian children. We now have 40 countries from around the world who have joined the coalition, and this number will be growing.
At the end of October, here in Canada—and we are thankful to Global Affairs Canada and Minister Joly—we will have a conference. Part of that agenda will be on our international efforts to bring the Ukrainian children back and to support and coordinate our diplomatic efforts. Canada is also supporting us to help those children who we have managed to bring back to Ukraine to rehabilitate them. These children have suffered a lot, including their mental health, with the need for them to resettle. We greatly value this.
This is one of the most horrific crimes, because it involves those who are the most vulnerable. This is part of the Russian breach of international law. These crimes against children are ones that are highly punished. That is why the global arrest warrant for Putin is based on the crimes against Ukrainian children.