Children’s Rights and International Assistance

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 …

Katelynn’s Principle: The child must be at the centre

On Friday, April 29, the jury in the Inquest into the Death of Katelynn Sampson, delivered a number of significant recommendations which are founded on the rights of children, particularly the right to be heard but also their full rights  under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Katelynn was only 7 years …

Evolving Capacity, Age, and Assisted Dying

Assisted Dying: Alternatives to Arbitrary Minimum Age The government has announced that they will hold further consultations on the question of the age of eligibility in the new legal framework for assistance in dying. For now, the proposed bill includes age 18 as a minimum age requirement. The use of arbitrary age limits in many …

Early Childhood Education Costs: a thought-provoking report

A new research report compares what parents contribute to the costs of early childhood education with what they contribute to post-secondary education costs.  These are two non-mandatory components of preparing children for full participation in society, but both are increasingly essential for young people.  The research shows that  “parents with children in PSE (post-secondary education) …

Children and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Children in Canada will benefit if Canada takes seriously the outcome of its sixth review under the International Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.  Recommendations for children repeat themes that the CCRC raised during the review of children’s rights.  Canada was asked to take action on a wide range of issues, including: the need …

Over 40 Child Initiatives in Cabinet Mandates

Children’s Rights, Cabinet Mandates, and CCRC plans The CCRC reviewed the mandate letters of new federal cabinet ministers and identified more than 40 initiatives that would contribute to the fulfillment of children’s rights.  These include very specific measures and systemic changes across a wide range of departments.  Many are positive responses to the 10 Steps …