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November 22:  Panel and Workshop discussion on how children’s rights could improve federal/provincial/first nations cooperation to benefit all children in Canada.  2016 is the 25th Anniversary of Ratification of the Convention on the Rights on the Child.  Implementation remains a challenge.  This topic is timely because progress in many areas involves more several governing bodies. Sponsored by the CCRC and partners at the University of Ottawa.

Discussion paper on this issue:  English: ccrc-discussion-paper-for-november-22-english-1    French:ccrc-discussion-paper-for-november-22-french

Noon-Hour Panel Discussion Time, Place, and Speakers:   English: ccrc-november-22-noon-hour-event   French: ccrc-november-22-noon-hour-event-french

Workshop Time, Place, and Registration Information:  English:ccrc-november-22-workshop-notice-english French: ccrc-november-22-workshop-notice-french

The CCRC welcomes the strong focus on ending violence against women and girls. Paying attention to children’s rights is essential and beneficial for the success of proposed national strategies.  That is the message in two submissions the CCRC is making.

We hope Status of Women Canada will consider Article 19 of the Convention, General Comment 13, and what has been learned in the global campaign to end violence against children. childrens-rights-and-a-national-strategy-on-gender-based-violence.

CCRC asks members of parliament who are studying violence against young women and girls to inform themselves of their responsibilities to implement commitments Canada made to children in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including recommendations in the last review of Canada’s record. childrens-right-to-freedom-from-violence-ccrc-submission-for-parliamentary-study-on-violence-against-young-women-and-girls

The CCRC has proposed a way to strengthen Canada’s international assistance program. In a submission for the current review, the CCRC proposes that the Convention on the Rights of the Child be adopted as the framework for all international assistance that impacts children, rather than being one small area of programming.   This would improve sustainability of outcomes; it would addressing governance issues as well as immediate needs; and it would provide coherence between the various parts of Canada’s international relations with other countries.   The CCRC proposes the use of Child Rights Impact Assessments as a tool to ensure that all the rights of children are considered in all aspects of programming.  See CCRC Submission for Review of International Assistance.

For many years the CCRC has proposed establishment of a National Children’s Commissioner as a focal point for implementation of children’s rights in Canada.  The need for and benefit of such an office have been well-documented.  What we need now is a national dialogue to build consensus on the mandate and how the office would work with young people and other government agencies, such as the  provincial children’s advocates.  Organizations and individuals are asked to support and help promote a joint call to action:Joint Call to Action and Elements for Discussion re Canadian Commissioner for Children and Youth;   Appel à la concertation pour un Commissaire canadien à l’enfance et à la jeunesse.

The review of Canada’s international assistance program provides an opportunity to make the Convention on the Rights of the Child a comprehensive framework for policies that affect children. The benefit would be greater impact for children through coherence and integration between all aspects of program and policy.  The CCRC also proposed that a Child Rights Impact Assessment tool be used to identify impacts for children in other program areas, such as economic development and sustainability. In addition to a submission to a parliamentary committee reviewing sectoral priorities, the CCRC will make similar proposals to a more comprehensive department-led review.CCRC submission for Study of Sectoral Priorities in International Assistance final.