Speak Up for Children in 2019 Election

Children are not allowed to vote but they will be affected by the results of the upcoming federal election.  Everyone can speak up to ensure that children’s policies are part of the public discussion this fall.  It is timely because 2019 is the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children …

Healthy Conditions for Growing Up in Canada

The right to health in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 24, is helpful in Canada because it highlights the importance of the social determinants of health for children.  Canada’s report for the 5th/6th review of children’s rights recognizes vulnerable groups of children but pays too little attention to the conditions in …

Children’s Commissioner: Accountability in Children’s Rights

The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) welcomes a renewed focus on the need for a national children’s commissioner, which re-started today with the introduction of a private member’s bill by MP Anne Minh-Thu Quach.  “The current lack of accountability for implementation of children’s rights across Canada is a major gap in good …

Pieces Need a Coherent Plan for Children: Budget 2019

Children will benefit from some of the new initiatives included in the 2019 Federal Budget.  But the lack of a coherent policy framework means that children will also continue to fall through the cracks of a patchwork of programs.  Each one addresses a part of what children need to develop their full potential; there is …

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Government Report on Children’s Rights in Canada Needs More Analysis

Canada’s 5th-6th report on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Canada is now filed with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.  Copies of the report and annexes are available here for your reference.   The report shows some progress since the last review.  Missing is information on outcomes …

The Right to Know Rights, Curriculum Reform, and Parental Rights in Education

Children’s right to learn about their rights was identified as a top priority during the recent Raise the Bar for Children’s Rights conference, hosted by the CCRC.  The benefits of teaching children and parents about children’s rights are evident in research and practice.  Fulfilling the Convention in Canada requires scaling up existing good practices so …

Raise the Bar for Children’s Rights: Next Steps

More than one hundred people gathered for two days of learning about children’s rights in Canada.  “It was good to come together,” said one participant, “to connect our own work with others and think about all rights for all children in Canada.”   The conference brought together people from a wide range of ages, positions, and …