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 …
Abdoul Abdi faces a deportation hearing this week. He is an adult now, but he would not be in this position if the government of Nova Scotia had protected his rights as a child. This case illustrates how implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Canada could prevent children from falling through …
The CCRC welcomes the development of a national youth policy and supports the initiative to consider the views of young people in its development. This is one step toward realizing the rights of young people. In a letter to the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Youth, the CCRC recommends two strategic directions: …
Children are affected when their parents go through a divorce, but their rights are not well-protected in Canada’s current family laws. The CCRC welcomes plans to modernize the law and expand the unified family court system. Stronger protection for the rights of children should be central to this process. It is also an opportunity for …
The rights of children with disabilities received attention during the first review of how Canada implements the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Concluding Observations includes recommendations relating to: inclusive education and teacher training; services for parents so disability is not a reason to put a child in care; access to services for …
Read more “Children with Disabilities: Recommendations for Canada”