CCRC

Appeal to Senate to Keep Youth Out of Jails

Kathy Vandergrift — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:54:16 +0000

Proposed changes to the youth criminal justice system will be reviewed by the Senate in February. They are part of Bill C-10, the omnibus crime bill. The CCRC is appealing to Senators to take a close look at the proposed changes for youth justice. In 2007 the Senate unanimously – all parties – adopted a major report on the rights of children. It said Canada needs to do better for our children. Bill C-10 will put more young people in jail rather than learning to be rights-respecting Canadians. It contradicts rather than advances the well-being and rights of children in Canada. Hopefully the Senate will stand up for our young people. For a copy of CCRC submission to Senate: Bill C-10 – CCRC Submission to Senate

Complaints Process Approved by UN

Kathy Vandergrift — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:37:04 +0000

On December 19 the UN General Assembly adopted a third Optional Protocol for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children will now be able to ask the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for help if their rights are violated and there is no way for them to address their situation within their own country. This puts children’s rights on the same level as adult rights.

The CCRC will encourage the Canadian government to ratify the optional protocol, so that children in Canada can have access to this tool for pursuing violations of their rights.

Joint NGO release English:Complaint Mechanism – Joint NGO release French:Complaint Process – NGO Release -French

For more information on the complaints process, check out www.crin.org.

Bill C-10: Will the Senate protect childrens’ rights?

Kathy Vandergrift — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:10:54 +0000

Bill C-10, the omnibus crime bill, violates children’s rights. Proposed amendments in the House of Commons were rejected by the governing party. Now the bill goes to the Senate. In recent years the Senate has endorsed several reports in support of children’s rights. The CCRC is asking Senators to consider how Bill C-10 fulfills or violates the rights of children before passing it. Canada’s children need someone to stand up for their rights in parliament.

Polygamy ruling advances children’s rights

Kathy Vandergrift — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:17:07 +0000

The BC Supreme Court upheld the prohibition against polygamy to prevent harm against women and children. The ruling gives high priority to children’s right to protection from harm. It reinforces the positive obligations of the state to prevent violations of children’s rights. And it establishes a strong link between children’s rights under the Charter and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The ruling gave significant weight to the evidence and arguments put forward by the CCRC/David Asper Center during the hearing. It strengthens recognition of children’s rights in Canadian jurisprudence. For detailed statement: Statement on Polygamy Ruling

National Child Day: How is Canada celebrating?

Kathy Vandergrift — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:12:13 +0000

National Child Day on November 20 celebrates adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child more than 20 years ago. This year Canada will mark the occasion by pushing through changes to the youth criminal justice system that completely violate the Convention.

Canada ratified the Convention in 1991, but the government has not done a review of how Bill C-10 fulfills or violates its obligations under the Convention.

If Bill C-10 passes as it is, the government should notify the UN that it is no longer committed to articles 4, 37, 39, and 40 of the Convention. In essence, it no longer upholds the central principles of children’s rights. The CCRC has asked that all MPs be informed how the bill fulfills or violates the Convention before they vote on this bill.

Commentary on Bill C-10: Young People and Bill C-10 – CCRC Statement

National Child Day 2011

Kathy Vandergrift — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:12:17 +0000

Sunday, November 20, is National Child Day. We celebrate adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. How well are we putting it into practice? A new CCRC report shows that too many children in Canada lack the support they need to develop their full potential. It also shows why it would be smart for Canadians to pay more attention to children’s rights. As the title says, children’s rights are “Right in Principle, Right in Practice.” Check it out on the front page of the CCRC website.

Every Child Counts

Kathy Vandergrift — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:09:55 +0000

Canada needs to develop the potential of every child, rather than letting some fall through cracks in a fragmented social support system. That is the central message in a new comprehensive report on children’s rights in Canada. Check out a news release, key points, and the full report on the front page at www.rightsofchildren.ca.

Bill C-10 and Young People

Kathy Vandergrift — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:54:23 +0000

In the middle of Bill C-10 are major changes for the youth justice system. The youth justice system needs to be different than the adult system. The CCRC proposes that Part IV of Bill C-10, the section that deals with youth justice, be extracted from the omnibus crime bill, for a full public debate of four major questions it raises about youth justice in Canada. Read and share the CCRC statement: Young People and Bill C-10 – CCRC Statement. For the CCRC submission on the earlier Bill C-4 on youth justice, see:CCRC_submission_on_Bill_C-4_final, and in French: CCRC_Submission_on_Bill_C-4__-_French_translation

Complaints Process Moves Ahead

Kathy Vandergrift — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:08:26 +0000

The UN Human Rights Council adopted the draft text to establish a complaints mechanism for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It will now go to the UN General Assembly for final approval in the fall. It will come into effect when 10 states ratify it.

This is good news because it gives children an additional means to seek redress when their rights are violated. It also puts children’s rights on the same level with other treaties that have a complaints mechanism. It is the result of a four year campaign by children’s rights groups around the world, including the CCRC.

Unfortunately, the current text was weakened during negotiations; a provision for collective complaints was deleted and states are permitted to make reservations that will limit the scope of complaints. Children’s rights groups will now focus on getting enough ratifications to bring it into force and then work to make it effective for children.

Children in the 2011 Throne Speech and Budget

Kathy Vandergrift — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:50:10 +0000

This analysis of the Throne Speech and Budget focuses on longer-term issues for children. Support for families is positive; how that support is delivered over the coming years will make a big difference for children and for Canadian society. Giving priority to children in program review is important for next year’s budget. Immediate attention is needed for Aboriginal education and child welfare. For details: ccrc-throne-speech-and-budget-analysis-2011