Child Rights in Canada: Time for a National Child & Youth Advocate

Background to Child Rights in Canada

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most ratified of all the United Nations Human Rights treaties. The treaty affirms and describes the fundamental human rights of all children (all human beings below the age of 18), and the governments that have ratified it have legally agreed to fulfill its provisions. The CRC forms the most comprehensive and well-established international standard for children's rights and provides the framework for the actions of UNICEF, the UN children's agency.

193 States parties that have ratified the Convention as of November, 2007. Canada signed the Convention on May 28th, 1990 and ratified the Convention on December 13th, 1991.

When I was the chair of the Child Welfare and Family Committee for the BC Association of Social Workers (BCASW) I brought forward a resolution advocating for an independent National Child & Youth Commissioner to the Board. This was passed and then sent to a number of other organizations in B.C., across Canada and to the CASW Children's Interest group. Unfortunately, in spite of the calls by many voices for a National Child & Youth Advocate, the federal government, through successive governments, has failed to create this crucial position and to acknowledge the rights of children in Canada. 

On May 3, 2012 by Marc Garneau, Member of Parliament for Westmount—Ville-Marie, introduced Bill C-420: Commissioner for Children and Young Persons in Canada Act - An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young Persons in Canada as a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill is now in Second Reading. 

On November 5 it will be debated for another hour and a vote will determine whether it is referred to a committee for further study or dies. 

How can social workers help? We can contact our Members of Parliament (MP's) and send them a quick e-mail in support of (Bill C-420). 

I want to strongly encourage Social Workers to make their views known to those in power. Based on our professional and personal experience we are an important voice and group of informed voters. Canada and our provinces need us to start raising our voices on these kinds of important matters of human rights for our most marginalized and vulnerable citizens.

 

To find your MP, search here or by postal code here.

To find out more about how Canada is living up to our statutory obligations under the UNCRC more information can be found here:

The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) works to achieve full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child  in Canada and globally. 

How well are children doing in Canada?   

The Concluding Observations from a comprehensive  review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child point to many areas where Canada needs to improve its policies for children.   For a report that deals with all rights under the Convention,  check this:  Canada_CRC Concluding Observations_61.2012 

For a report that focuses on sexual exploitation, check this:  Canada_OPSC Concluding Observations_61.2012

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Canada’s broken promises to children

Kirsty Duncan, M.P., Oct 16, 2012, IPolitics Insight. 

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For Immediate Release

Asking Harper Government to Help Protect Children

OTTAWA (October, 18, 2012) – For over two decades the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) has asked successive federal governments to put in place a national independent advocate or representative charged with making sure that in Canada, our children are put first and their rights are protected. 

Despite the efforts of CASW and other national organizations dedicated to protecting and supporting children and youth, Canada sadly still has no independent body at the national level to ensure that their rights are placed at the centre of social and public policy.

“Granted issues such as child welfare, child care and other necessary programming are essentially provincial jurisdictions, their funding is directly impacted by the policy directions of the federal government” states CASW President, Morel Caissie. “Having a national independent office or representative whose responsibility will be to bring accountability to federal decisions will provide leadership to the provinces and territories to share and enact the best practices to protect our children.”

CASW today respectfully asks the Harper Government to help protect children by supporting the current legislation (Bill C-420) before the Parliament of Canada.

“All opposition parties have already expressed full support for the bill and it will be realized for the children of Canada if the Prime Minister makes it a priority” notes Caissie. “Canadians are hopeful the Harper Government chooses now to make history and make protecting our children a number one priority.”

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For more information:

Fred Phelps MSW, RSW

CASW Executive Director

Tel.: 613.729.6668 

Background:

Bill C-420:

Commissioner for Children and Young Persons in Canada Act - An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young Persons in Canada

Introduced as a Private Member’s Bill on May 3, 2012 by Marc Garneau, Member of Parliament for Westmount—Ville-Marie. 

About:

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) was founded in 1926 and has evolved into a national social work organization that promotes the profession of social work and advances issues of social justice.