Ukraine Conference Privileges and Immunities Order

Summary#

The Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War Privileges and Immunities Order temporarily gives diplomatic-style protections to people attending the conference titled Pathways to Peace: Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War in Toronto on September 28 and 29, 2026. The order is in effect from its registration day until October 2, 2026.

What it does#

• Grants temporary privileges and immunities to participants of the conference while they travel to and take part in it.
• Different categories get different protections:
  • Representatives of foreign states get the protections in parts of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, such as immunity from personal arrest or detention, some legal immunities for acts in their official role, inviolability of papers, and baggage protections.
  • Senior officials of international organizations get privileges comparable to those of diplomatic agents under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, limited to what is needed for the conference (for example, exemptions from some immigration restrictions).
  • Other officials of international organizations get the protections in Article V of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations for acts in their official capacity.
  • Experts sent on missions for international organizations get the protections in Article VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, including certain immunities and inviolability of mission papers.
• The protections are limited to what is necessary for the person’s role at the conference and only last for the defined period.
• The government expects the order to cover about 400 participants.

Who's affected#

• Foreign ministers and other official delegates from foreign states attending the conference.
• Heads, senior officials and other staff of international organizations taking part.
• Experts sent by international organizations to work at the conference.
• Canadian federal agencies that handle entry and travel, such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency, because they will apply the exemptions and facilitate entry for covered persons.
• It is not clear that regular Canadians or Canadian businesses will be directly affected.

Why it matters#

• These protections make it easier for high-level foreign and international participants to come to Canada and speak freely at the conference without routine legal or immigration obstacles.
• They help Canada host an international meeting focused on returning unlawfully deported or detained Ukrainian children, civilians and prisoners of war, and aim to support international cooperation on those issues.
• The order is time-limited and targeted; it does not provide broad tax or duty relief and is meant to match standard diplomatic practice used at similar international events.