Canada to investigate sexual violence in Ukraine as war crimes

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OTTAWA — Overseas Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada will assist examine sexual violence by Russian troops towards girls and women in Ukraine.

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Talking in Ottawa after talks with Ann Linde, Sweden’s international affairs minister, Joly stated RCMP officers serving to to analyze conflict crimes in Ukraine will assist collect proof of rape and sexual violence by the Russian army.

Joly stated Canada has offered 10 RCMP officers to assist collect proof of attainable conflict crimes in Ukraine that could possibly be utilized in a case on the Worldwide Felony Courtroom.

She stated she thinks there may be “robust proof of a genocide” towards the Ukrainian individuals by Russia.

MPs in Canada have already voted symbolically to label Russian concentrating on of Ukrainian civilians a genocide.

Each international ministers expressed concern that sexual violence towards girls was being utilized by Russia as a weapon of conflict in Ukraine, saying such crimes should be highlighted.

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They stated specialist assist is required for Ukrainian girls and women fleeing to neighbouring nations who could have been raped and abused by invading troops.

Linde stated Sweden has been on the forefront of investigating conflict crimes towards civilians, together with sexual violence towards girls.

It has already despatched “specialists on investigating sexual and gender-based crime” to assist the Worldwide Felony Courtroom with its conflict crimes investigation. They’re interviewing refugees, “primarily girls and women and kids,” as witnesses.

Talking after talks together with her Swedish counterpart, Joly reiterated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assist for Sweden becoming a member of NATO.

Linde stated Sweden needed “safety assurances” from different NATO nations if it applies for membership within the army alliance, in case there are reprisals from Russia for selecting to hitch. Russia is already participating in disinformation campaigns, together with falsely labelling distinguished figures in Sweden as Nazis, she stated.

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Earlier this week, Ukraine’s ambassador-designate to Canada stated Russia should be held accountable for its troops committing intercourse crimes, together with towards youngsters.

Yulia Kovaliv informed MPs at a Home of Commons committee that Russia is utilizing sexual violence as a weapon of conflict. She stated Ukraine was compiling “horrific documented proof” of conflict crimes, together with sexual crimes by Russian troopers.

“The horror is that youngsters are victims of those sexual crimes, that are performed (earlier than) the eyes of their dad and mom,” Kovaliv stated. “Sexual crimes is a part of the Russian weapon (towards) Ukraine.”