PCOEW11381 Translation by OSCE Language Services The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document PC.DEL/1268/25 and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE 21 November 2025 Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. ENGLISH Original: as delivered Delegation of Canada STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR VÉRONIQUE PEPIN -HALLÉ, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CANADA TO THE OSCE, AT THE 1543rd MEETING OF THE OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL 20 November 2025 The ninety-second anniversary of the Holodomor genocide committed in Ukraine in 1932–1933 by the totalitarian Stalinist regime Mister Chair, We join Ukrainians, Ukrainian Canadians, and all Ukrainian communities around the world in remembering the millions of innocent victims who were killed or suffered during the Holodomor in 1932 and 1933. The word Holodomor, or "death by hunger" in Ukrainian, captures the enormity of this atrocity. Most historians estimate that between 3.5 to 10 million people were starved to death by deliberate policies and acts of the Soviet regime under Josef Stalin. The Soviet regime orchestrated a famine to impose total control over Ukraine, destroy the will of Ukrainians, and erase their national identity. Contemporary attempts by Russia to distort history cannot change these facts. Mister Chair, Ninety-two years later, Ukraine’s independence is once again under threat, and Ukrainians are again suffering from policies and actions dictated by decision-makers in the Kremlin. Russia's strategy in its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has tragic and frightening parallels with the policies and actions of the Holodomor. Mr. Chairperson, The Government of Canada recognized the Holodomor in May 2008 through legislation recognizing the Ukrainian famine of 1932–1933 as genocide and establishing a day of remembrance for the Ukrainian Holodomor. Many survivors of the Holodomor settled in Canada. The world’s first monument dedicated to the victims of the Holodomor was erected in Edmonton, Canada, in 1983. Today, Canada has a dozen memorials across the country.
- 2 - PC.DEL/1268/25 21 November 2025 Each monument serves as a place of reflection and education, highlighting Canada’s recognition and condemnation of the Holodomor. Canada will continue to honour the memory of the victims who perished or suffered in the Holodomor and the courage of their descendants, who bear the burden of intergenerational trauma. It is our collective duty to listen to the stories of the survivors of genocide and their descendants in order to understand the devastating impact of these crimes on the history of humanity, and to stand in solidarity with Ukraine to ensure that such atrocities never happen again. Thank you.
Delegation of Canada Délégation du Canada to the OSCE auprès de l’OSCE STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR VÉRONIQUE PEPIN-HALLÉ UNDER CURRENT ISSUE: Ninety-second anniversary of the Holodomor - Genocide committed in Ukraine in 1932– 1933 by the totalitarian Stalinist regime 1543 rd MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL 20 November 2025 Mister Chair, We join Ukrainians, Ukrainian Canadians, and all Ukrainian communities around the world in remembering the millions of innocent victims who were killed or suffered during the Holodomor in 1932 and 1933. The word Holodomor, or "death by hunger" in Ukrainian, captures the enormity of this atrocity. Most historians estimate that between 3.5 to 10 million people were starved to death by deliberate policies and acts of the Soviet regime under Josef Stalin. The Soviet regime orchestrated a famine to impose total control over Ukraine, destroy the will of Ukrainians, and erase their national identity. Contemporary attempts by Russia to distort history cannot change these facts. Mister Chair, Ninety-two years later, Ukraine’s independence is once again under threat, and Ukrainians are again suffering from policies and actions dictated by decision-makers in the Kremlin. Russia's strategy in its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has tragic and frightening parallels with the policies and actions of the Holodomor. Monsieur le Président, Le gouvernement du Canada a reconnu l'Holodomor en mai 2008 par une loi reconnaissant la famine ukrainienne de 1932-33 comme un génocide et instituant un jour commémoratif de l'Holodomor ukrainien. De nombreux survivants de l'Holodomor se sont installés au Canada. Le premier monument au monde dédié aux victimes de l'Holodomor a été érigé à Edmonton, au Canada, en 1983. Aujourd'hui, le Canada compte une douzaine de monuments commémoratifs à travers le pays. Chaque monument sert de lieu de réflexion et d'éducation, soulignant la reconnaissance et la condamnation de l'Holodomor par le Canada. Le Canada continuera d'honorer la mémoire des PC.DEL/1268/25 21 November 2025 Original: as delivered The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States.
victimes qui ont péri ou souffert dans l'Holodomor et le courage de leurs descendants, qui portent le poids d'un traumatisme intergénérationnel. Il est de notre devoir collectif d'écouter les récits des survivants du génocide et de leurs descendants afin de comprendre l'impact dévastateur de ces crimes sur l'histoire de l'humanité et d’être solidaires avec l'Ukraine pour veiller à ce que ces atrocités ne se reproduisent plus. Merci.