“Rights and freedoms are hard-won and defended by people who are brave.” Oleksandra Matviichuk meets with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau

On June 3, the head of the Center for Civil Liberties had a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. Oleksandra thanked him for his constant and important support of Ukraine, including financial contributions. We managed to get it even when other countries, including the United States, didn’t give any guarantees.

Canada announced a new aid package of two billion Canadian dollars, or one and a half billion US dollars, in March of this year.

“It is because of Canada and its people that Ukraine’s government can meet its most basic social needs: hospitals for injured people, schools for children, assistance for vulnerable people. We are very grateful.” Oleksandra said.

During the meeting, Oleksandra also discussed such issues as deporting Ukrainian children to the Temporarily Occupied Territories and the Russian Federation, civilians held captive in Russia, and the need to bring all war criminals to justice.

“Oleksandra Matviichuk is a proud Ukrainian. She has dedicated her life to protecting civil liberties in her homeland and beyond. What we talked about was a powerful reminder that our rights and freedoms are never guaranteed. They have been hard won and are being defended by courageous people like her,” Justin Trudeau tweeted after the meeting.

In general, the visit of Oleksandra Matviichuk, the head of the Center for Civil Liberties, to Canada will last one week — from June 3 to 9. Oleksandra plans to hold a series of meetings with politicians, lawyers, human rights activists, students, Canadians, and Ukrainians in Canada in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg.