Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada is committed to seeking justice for Ukraine’s women and children as allegations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers rise. Freeland was questioned on Thursday about war crimes that Russia has been accused of committing on Ukrainian citizens and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. “War crimes have been committed in Ukraine, they are being committed in Ukraine. The evidence we have seen in Bucha and other parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine is absolutely frightening,” Freeland said after a tour of a carbon offensive. installation in Calgary. “I want to take some time to stress that one of the things that is happening is the systematic rape of women and children in Ukraine.” Freeland said Canada would work with its Democratic allies to oust those responsible. “Rape is used as a weapon in this war and I want the women of Ukraine to know that we see them, we will not forget and we will work with Ukraine and our democratic allies around the world to bring the perpetrators to justice.” Freeland, which also serves as finance minister, said she spoke with her Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday to express Canada’s support. He also said that Russia’s occupation should be declared a genocide – as US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trinto have said – as thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and raped. Freeland pointed to a “creepy document” on a Russian website published 10 days ago “which essentially drew up a plan for genocide in Ukraine, which demanded the suffering, the punishment of the people who, in the view of this document, were wrong and wrong. describe themselves as Ukrainian “. “This required the word Ukraine to be deleted.” Freeland said the Russian occupation marked a struggle between democracy and dictatorship and that it was in Canada’s interest to support Ukraine. “Honestly, we are really lucky that the Ukrainians are so bravely prepared to fight this fight for us, that they are ready to stand there and die in this fight.” Up to 150 members of the Canadian Armed Forces are deployed in Poland to assist in the care, coordination and resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. With archives from Alanna Smith in Calgary and the Associated Press This Canadian Press report was first published on April 14, 2022.
