Privileges for Ukraine Peace Conference Attendees

Summary#

The Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula Privileges and Immunities Order gives temporary diplomatic-style privileges to people attending a ministerial meeting in Montréal, Quebec on October 30 and 31, 2024. The order took effect when it was registered on October 25, 2024, and the privileges apply for the period October 27 to November 1, 2024.

What it does#

• Grants different levels of privileges and immunities to people connected with the ministerial conference:
  • Representatives of foreign states who are official delegates get the protections listed in parts of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (including immunity from arrest or detention for the period, protection of papers, and immunity for words or acts done in their official capacity).
  • Senior officials of international organizations receive privileges comparable to those of diplomatic agents under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, except for duty and tax relief.
  • Other officials of international organizations receive limited immunities under Article V of the UN Convention (for official acts and immigration exemptions).
  • Experts on mission for international organizations receive the immunities set out in Article VI of the UN Convention (including some protection from arrest and protection of documents and baggage).
• Confirms that the privileges are time-limited: they apply only for the relevant period October 27 to November 1, 2024 and only “to the extent required” for participation in the conference.
• States the order was made under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act and came into force on registration (October 25, 2024).

Who's affected#

• Official delegates from foreign states who attend the conference.
• Senior officials, other officials, and experts from international organizations invited to the meeting.
• The participants are those invited by Canada; the exact list of individuals is not set out in the order.
• Canadian federal departments involved in planning or security will be directly involved, including Global Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Why it matters#

• The order makes it easier for high-level foreign representatives and experts to travel to and take part in the conference, by giving them legal protections and some immigration flexibility for a short period.
• Those protections help participants carry sensitive documents, speak freely in an official role, and avoid routine legal interruptions while they do conference work.
• The measures are temporary and limited in scope: they do not provide tax or duty exemptions and end on November 1, 2024.
• The conference is intended to advance international action on returning prisoners of war, detained civilians, and deported children to Ukraine; these immunities are a practical step to ensure invited participants can attend and negotiate.