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 …
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 …
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 …
Read more “Children’s Commissioner: Accountability in Children’s Rights”
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 …
Read more “Government Report on Children’s Rights in Canada Needs More Analysis”
Canada received 245 recommendations from other countries to improve how it implements human rights, including children’s rights. The response is a missed opportunity to make and show progress in Canada. It shows that not much has changed in practice, in spite of ministerial level statements about improving implementation in Canada. The forthcoming review of children’s …
Read more “Children’s Rights in Canada’s Response to the UPR”
The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) welcomes the official release of Canada’s first Federal Poverty Reduction Strategy. It signals clear recognition of the need for focused and coordinated attention to address the long-standing challenge of poverty, including child poverty, across Canada. In particular, the framework is noteworthy for setting targets, using multiple …
Proposed changes in Canadian family law are a big step forward for children’s rights in Canada. If passed, Bill 78 will make the Best Interests of the Child the only principle for decisions on parental arrangements in divorce cases. Criteria for determining the best interests of the child reflect Convention principles, including a legal requirement …