September 12, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada, together with Ukraine and Norway, will co-host Pathways to Peace: Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War in Toronto, Ontario, on September 28 and 29, 2026.

Canada, Ukraine and Norway are convening the conference to strengthen international support for efforts to bring people home, protect those who remain under Russian control and ensure that those who return can access rehabilitation and reintegration services.

The conference will bring together foreign ministers and senior representatives from participating countries as well as participants from international organizations to address some of the most urgent human consequences of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine: the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children, the unlawful detention of civilians, and the protection and return of prisoners of war.

Building on commitments made at the 2024 Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula and the resulting Montreal Pledge, participants will assess progress to date, identify remaining gaps and consider practical measures to turn political commitments into tangible outcomes that are guided by international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Discussions will focus on three priority areas:

• Supporting efforts to bring Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war home, including by strengthening tracing, information sharing, coordination and pathways for return
• Strengthening the protection of affected individuals while they remain under Russian control, including through humanitarian access, family contact and reliable information sharing on their status and whereabouts
• Supporting Ukraine’s efforts to provide rehabilitation and reintegration following an individual’s return while advancing accountability and access to justice for violations of international law

The conference will feature ministerial plenary sessions, focused thematic discussions and expert-level exchanges designed to advance practical areas for cooperation among partners and international organizations.