Officials from 20 countries gathered in Quebec City Thursday to try and come up with strategies to fight militant Islamist group ISIS.
In recent months some Canadians have left to join the group while others have been arrested and accused of trying to do so. Now the international community is trying to come up with a coordinated strategy to deal with the threat.
Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson presided over the closed door meeting. Retired U.S. General John Allen was also present – he was appointed by President Barack Obama to look into the ISIS situation and coordinate the American response with U.S. partners.
"We had a briefing from the Iraqi foreign minister and he gave us in great detail the way ISIS is being pushed back or contained," said Nicholson after the meeting. "For that reason, I felt very optimistic."
It’s believed the delegates, whose identities have not been officially revealed, discussed the military strikes that have been conducted on ISIS targets in Syria and elsewhere for the better part of one year.
There was also a U.N. representative on hand who talked about the situation on the ground, particularly about sexual violence in zones of conflict. She discussed the fact that women are mistreated and more has to be done to reach out and help them.
An announcement to explain what has been discussed is expected to come later in the day.
