Canada's
Record on Children's Rights
- September 2007
The
CCRC thinks Canadians have a right to know what Canada was asked to do in 2003
when its Second Report on the Rights of Children was reviewed. If the 45 recommendations
were followed, children in Canada would benefit. Read the overview to learn what
this means for children, and get additional information on specific issues in
the background notes. Canada reports again in 2009. It is time to take action
on the 2003 recommendations to improve our record.
- incl. links to :
*
Overview - 2003 Review of Canada’s Record * Non-Discrimination * Best Interests
of the Child * Accountability * CRC and Canadian Law * CRC and Basic Services
* Vulnerable Groups Children: Silenced Citizens?
In
2004 the Senate Human Rights Committee began a study of Canada's international
obligations in relation to the rights of children in Canada. The final report
in 2007, Children: The Silenced Citizens, makes 24 recommendations to bring Canada
into compliance with our legal obligations. The government must respond to
the report by mid-November 2007. [bolding added] Resources
About Children's Rights In Canada
- list of resources about the Convention
on the Rights of the Child including the full text of the convention, information
booklets, and a classroom curriculum. Convention
on the Rights of the Child Tools
for Monitoring Children's Rights in Canada Source:
Canadian
Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC)
The Canadian Coalition
for the Rights of Children (CCRC) has been representing children's organizations
in Canada since 1989. The CCRC brings together Canadian organizations and individuals
who are concerned about the rights of children. Related
links: A
Response to the Final Report, Children: The Silenced Citizens, of the
Standing
Senate Committee on Human Rights in Relation to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child (PDF file - 768K, 61 pages)
By Jeanne Sarson and Linda
MacDonald
August 17, 2007
"(...) This Shadow Report exposes gaps that
have not been addressed in the Canadian Standing Senate Committee Final Report,
Children: The Silenced Citizens and offers solutions that, in our opinion, would
help address duty and promote caring so that Canada increasingly becomes a country
safe and supportive for all children. (Excerpt from the summary of recommendations)
Source:
Persons
Against Ritual Abuse Children:
The Silenced Citizens
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF CANADA’S
INTERNATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN
Final Report of the Standing
Senate Committee on Human Rights
The Honourable Raynell Andreychuk,
Chair
The Honourable Joan Fraser, Deputy Chair
April 2007
HTML
version
PDF
version (1.3MB, 323 pages)
(...)In November 2004, the Standing Senate
Committee on Human Rights was authorized by the Senate to examine and report upon
Canada’s international obligations with regard to the rights and freedoms
of children. From the outset, the Committee reviewed Canada’s international
obligations with respect to children’s rights as a case study reflecting
the broader implications of ensuring that domestic legislation and policies comply
with Canada’s international human rights obligations, and in keeping with
a broader mandate that began with this Committee’s first report in 2001,
Promises to Keep: Implementing Canada’s Human Rights Obligations. The primary
aim of this study was to assess whether the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child has been implemented, whether Canadian children are benefiting from
it, and whether the Convention has been used as a tool to address key problems
of facing children in this country. The Committee also looked at the role of Parliament
within this framework. (Excerpt from the Executive Summary) Executive
Summary
Summary
of Recommendations
Source:
Standing
Senate Committee on Human Rights Related link: Canada
Still Resisting Rights for Children (PDF file
- 28K, 1 page)
Press Release
April 26, 2007
Ottawa, ON - The Standing
Senate Committee on Human Rights released a comprehensive report today with respect
to the rights of children. Children: The Silenced Citizens clearly indicates how
Canada’s “compliance is … inadequate”. The gap between “rhetoric
and reality” has left Canadian children vulnerable, with no representation
at the federal government level to work on their behalf.
Source:
Child
Welfare League of Canada |
Who's
in Charge Here? Effective Implementation of Canada's
International Obligations
with Respect to the Rights of Children
Interim Report of the Standing Senate
Committee on Human Rights
Nineteenth Report
Chair:
The Honourable Raynell Andreychuk
Deputy Chair: The Honourable Landon Pearson
November
2005
"On November 3, 2004, the Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights (“the Committee”) was authorized by the Senate to examine and
report upon Canada’s international obligations with respect to the rights
and freedoms of children. In particular, the Committee was authorized to “examine
our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;
and whether Canada’s legislation as it applies to children meets our obligations
under this Convention.”" [Excerpt from p. 8 of the Introduction ]
HTML
version
PDF
version (789K, 218 pages)
NOTE: I'd recommend the PDF version, because
the HTML version is in several chunks that you can access only via the table of
contents or by clicking the "Next" button in the corner of each page. Source:
Reports
of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights (38th Parliament, 1st Session)
[Senate
of Canada Standing Committee on Human Rights ]
|
A
World Fit for Children (PDF file - 151K, 23 pages)
June 2002
"A
World Fit for Children was negotiated over three years by the nations of the
world and adopted by consensus at the Special Session. It comprises three parts:
a) Declaration; b) Review of progress and lessons learned; and c) Plan of Action.
The Plan of Action focuses on four main themes: i) promoting healthy lives; ii)
providing quality education; iii) protecting against abuse, exploitation, and
violence; and iv) combating HIV/AIDS."
(From
the UNICEF website)
| Canada's
National Plan of Action (Senator Landon Pearson's website)
- incl.
links to :
Consultations (Introduction - A Dialogue with Canadians
- The process - Consultative activities - Priority areas for the NPA)
Resources
(Documentation - Canadian chronology - International commitments)
Background
(A World Fit for Children - Special Session on Children)
Source:
The
Info-sidewalk - The children's rights website of Hon. Landon Pearson, Canadian
Senator for Children and Youth |
Children
and the Hill - Issue Number 27
Fall 2005
Click
the link below to read the full text of the final issue of Senator Landon Pearson's
Children and the Hill newsletter; click the link above to read Senator Pearson's
introduction to that final issue.
The sad news is her imminent retirement from
the Senate, and the good news is the establishment of a Resource Centre for the
Study of Childhood and Children's Rights at Carleton University. In her intro,
she also reflects on the progress, or lack thereof, in the protection of children's
rights and the promotion of children's well-being in Canada over the decade starting
in 1995, shortly after she became the "Canadian Senator for the rights of
children."
On
the Record: 1995-2005
A Decade in Review for Children & Youth
(PDF file - 201K, 36 pages)
"...a review of the
last ten years of federal activities previously highlighted in
Children & the Hill [Senator Pearson's newsletter] covering the period
from 1995 to 2005 during which time Senator Landon Pearson made it her mission
to address the need for a focal point for children at the federal level in her
capacity as Senator, Liberal parliamentarian and Advisor on Children’s Rights."
Key
documentation for Canada's National Plan of Action
- links to over three dozen documents
- Summary
reports from consultative activities
Discussion
Guide for consultations (PDF file - 194K, 18 pages)
[Guide
de discussion - version française]
March 2003
- includes priorities;
a chronology; and table demonstrating domestic and international commitments.
-
also includes a brief chronology of "Canada’s Efforts for Children":
International Year of the Child (1979) - Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1989) - World Summit for Children (1990) - Brighter Futures (1992) - National
Child Day (1993) - National Child Benefit (1998) - Early Childhood Development
Agreement (2000) - United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children
(2002)
Civil
Society Engagement Process on Canada’s National Plan of Action for Children
in Response to “A World Fit for Children” (PDF file - 79K,
3 pages)
December 9, 2002
Senator Landon Pearson, Advisor on Children’s
Rights
to The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Invitation from Senator Landon
Pearson for Canadian individuals and groups to participate in the preparation
of the National Plan of Action for Children by reading A World Fit for Children
and sending comments to her (by the end of January 2003).
Report
on Early Childhood Development (2002)
- excellent contextual information
about the federal-provincial-territorial agreement on early childhood development
(incl. CHST transfers to each jurisdiction for ECD from 2001-02 to 2005-06), the
National Children's Agenda, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Agreement, Highlights
of the Report (detailed list of federal programs, services and expenditures on
Children Under 6 in 2000-2001.
General
Information and Resources on Human/Children's Rights - Excellent collection
of over three dozen reviewed links to Canadian and international children's rights
organizations and resources.
Building
a Future Together:
Issues and Outcomes for Transition-Aged Youth
(PDF file - 1.2MB, 69 pages)
November 2006
By Carrie Reid and Peter Dudding
The
Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, along with the Child Welfare League of
Canada and the National Youth in Care Network, are proud to announce the release
of Building a Future Together: Issues and Outcomes for Transition-Aged Youth.
This paper examines the complex issues facing youth as they transition out of
state care and into adulthood. Eight areas are discussed: relationships, education,
housing, life skills, identity, youth engagement, emotional healing and financial
support. Also included is an examination of international practices in this area
as well as the results of a survey of transition to adulthood programs and policies
in each province and territory.
Related Links:
Wards
of the Crown (PDF file - 841K, 2 pages)
Wards
of the Crown is a new Canadian documentary following the lives of four youth
as they leave government care.
About
the Filmmaker - Andrée Cazabon
Related
links:
Youth
Leaving Care – How Do They Fare?
Briefing Paper (PDF
file - 242K, 31 pages)
September 2005
By Anne Tweddle
"This discussion
paper was prepared for the Modernizing Income Security for Working Age Adults
(MISWAA) Project in order to support and inform short- and long-term recommendations
respecting challenges facing youth leaving care."
Source:
Task
Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working Age Adults ("MISWAA")
- they produced the report
Laidlaw
Foundation - they funded the report
The Human Rights Research and Education Centre
is an independent centre within the University of Ottawa. Its Director is a Professor
of the Faculty of Law. The Centre's Advisory Committee provides advice on major
new research and education directions, and works as an avenue for linkages and
communications with the various constituencies which the Centre serves.
International
Institute for Child Rights and Development (IICRD)
"IICRD is a
Canadian leader in community-based, national, regional and international applications
of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These applications
are unique in that they provide a "culturally grounded" approach to
children's rights that build on children's natural resiliency (strengths) as well
as the strengths of families, communities and culture."
Related
Link:
Children
as Partners (CAP)
"Children as Partners is a place where young
people and adults from around the world who support child participation can share
what they think, what they know and helpful information."
Source:
Centre
for Global Studies
University of Victoria
A
Canada Fit for Children
News Release
May 10, 2004
"The
Government of Canada today announced the release of A Canada Fit for Children,
its official response to the commitments made on May 10, 2002, at the United Nations
General Assembly Special Session on Children. (...) Senator Landon Pearson, who
was instrumental in developing the document, submitted it to the United Nations
in New York City on April 22, 2004, on behalf of the Government of Canada. 'A
Canada Fit for Children is the result of input from thousands of Canadians, including
young people, who have a common interest in the rights and well-being of children,'
said Senator Pearson."
Complete report:
A
Canada Fit for Children : Canada’s plan of action in response to the May
2002
United Nations Special Session on Children
April 2004
HTML
version
- (Table of contents) links to : Preface - Declaration - Toward A
Common Canadian Vision for Children - Plan of Action - Government of Canada Investments
in and Commitments to Children
PDF
version (359K, 53 pages)
Google
News search Results : "A Canada Fit for
Children"
Google Web Search Results : "A
Canada Fit for Children"
Source:
Google.ca
Canada
and the United Nations
-
incl. links to : * About Us * Canada and the UN * Overview of the UN * Diplomatic
Missions * Policy Positions * Statements * Press Releases * Press Review * e-mail
alerts * Events * Civil Society Gateway * FAQ * Quick Links (United
Nations - This Week at the UN - UN Journal - Press Releases - Jobs & Internships
- Canadian International Development Agency - Canada in the World - The UN Works
- UNICEF Canada - UNA-Canada) * Canadian Priorities (UN
Reform - Environment - Human Security - Human Rights - Counter-Terrorism - Global
Health - Millennium Development Goals
- this site is managed by the United
Nations and Commonwealth Affairs Division of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade Canada.
Rights
of Children
- incl. links to : International Initiatives | Canada's
Engagement | FPT Initiatives | Other Resources
Official
documents available on-line
- incl. links to background information
about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and over a dozen related
documents
Convention
on the Rights of the Child - complete text
Review
of Canada's Second Report on
the Convention on the Rights of the Child
"Canada
will appear before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on
September 17, 2003, to discuss its second report on its implementation of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child."
Canada's
Second Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child
*This
is the document that was reviewed in Geneva in September 2003*
Canada's
Second Report was submitted on April 26, 2001
- incl. links to measures adopted
by the Government of Canada and governments of the provinces and territories as
well as annexes and tables
- here are just some 27 tables of social indicators
you'll find in this report: number of children in Canada (1921-1996) - immigrant
children (1975-1995) - Children among visible minority populations, 1996 - Dependent
children involved in divorces, by party obtaining custody (1978-1995) - Missing
children, by cause of disappearance, 1996 - Infant mortality (1960-1996) - Incidence
of low income (1981-1996) - Selected Indicators for Registered Indian Population
on Reserve - and much more...
Government
of Canada Announces Funding for the Children's Rights Project
March
13, 2003
"Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament
(Vancouver South-Burnaby), on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps,
today announced funding of $64,750 for Save the Children Canada. The funding will
help the association expand their Right Way project over two years."
Source:
Canadian
Heritage
Related Link:
Save
the Children Canada
"Save the Children Canada is a non-political,
non-sectarian organization that has spent 80 years working to protect the children
of the world from neglect, cruelty and exploitation. The organization's role has
ranged from giving emergency aid to starving young victims, to supporting children,
families and communities in developing countries and at home in Canada."
Child
Protection - Publications and Tools
January
21, 2005
"In September 2000, Maria Minna, Canada's Minister for International
Cooperation, launched CIDA's Social Development Priorities: A Framework for Action.
The framework refocuses the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on
its poverty-reduction mandate by increasing investments over five years in health
and nutrition, basic education, HIV/AIDS, and child protection, with gender equality
as an integral part of all these priorities"
- incl. links to two dozen
reports (from 1997 to 2004) on child protection, child participation, war-affected
children, child laboour and sexually-exploited children.
Related
Link:
CIDA's
Action Plan on Child Protection: Promoting the Rights of Children who Need Special
Protection Measures (2001)
Child
Rights - A Gender Perspective
May 24, 2002
"This edition
of Gender Equality News presents four articles from CIDA's perspective
on the issues that must be understood in order to effectively work to realize
the rights of all girls and boys. The articles look at issues such as child workers,
the sexual and reproductive health of youth, and children in conflict situations."
Gender
Equality News - links to almost a dozen newsletters published by the Gender
Equality Division in Policy Branch at CIDA. The newsletters provide information
about projects, training and theory on gender equality and highlight some CIDA
initiatives that promote equality between women and men.
Canadian
Action Plan Sets New Course in Child Protection in the Developing World
News
Release
June 18, 2001
International
Cooperation Minister Maria Minna today released Canada's Child Protection Action
Plan, a document that sets the course for Canadian aid programming for the most
marginalized children in developing countries. The document, prepared by the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) after extensive consultation with civil
society partners, places special emphasis on war-affected children and child labour.
- Canada's
Child Protection Action Plan - CIDA's Action Plan on Child Protection
Promoting the rights of children who need special protection
measures
June 2001
PDF
version (285 K - 52 pages)
| National/Universal Child Day - November
20 |
National
Child Day 2007 - The Right to be Active
"The theme for National
Child Day 2007 is The Right to be Active. The theme was chosen to encourage physical
activity among children and inform parents, caregivers and educators that physical
activity is essential to children’s health and well-being. This theme also
reflects Canada’s commitments under Article 24 of the United Nations Convention
of the Rights of the Child, which recognizes children’s right to be healthy
and enjoy the highest attainable standard of health."
- incl. links to:
* About National Child Day * Activities for Kids * For Parents/Caregivers
* For Educators * The Right to be Active * Partners & Links * Give us Feedback
* Download Poster
Source:
Public
Health Agency of Canada
NOTE: In April 2007,
the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights released Children
: The Silenced Citizens, a report on children's rights in Canada.
The Committee made 24
recommendations with respect to Canada and the Convention on the Rights of
the Child. Article 24 of the Convention, which is the theme of this year's National
Child Day, is mentioned only in recommendation 15: "Pursuant to articles
2, 23, 24, 33, and 39 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Committee
recommends that the federal, provincial, and territorial governments implement
an improved process to improve services to special needs children by July 2008."
What
about the other 23 recommendations??
Is Canada committed ONLY to article 24
of the Convention??
Related links:
Canada
failing many kids, says report
Canada has a poor
record on promoting children’s rights and healthy development, including
scandalously high rates of child poverty, according to a new report.
November
20, 2007
Canada has a poor record on promoting children’s rights and healthy
development, including scandalously high rates of child poverty, according to
a new report released on National Child Day. Improving the situation starts with
strong public services like child care.
NOTE: click
the link above to access over two dozen related resources --- see the links both
within the text and in the right-hand margin of the page
Source:
Canadian
Union of Public Employees
----------------------------------
National
Child Day 2006 — November 20
"I Have the Right to be Heard!"
The
Canadian Child Care Federation has chosen "the right to be heard" as
its theme for National Child Day 2006. As supporting documentation, the United
Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has also selected Article 12 as their
"Day of General Discussion" in September ( Geneva). CCCF is preparing
a research paper under this theme and will be submitting it to the United Nations
for consideration.
Source:
Canadian
Child Care Federation (CCCF)
-------------------------------------------National
Child Day 2005 - November 20
- incl. links to : Message from Senator
Pearson - National Child Day Activities - More about National Child Day - Partners
and Links - Fun Zone
Partners
and Links - incl. Government Partners - Non-Governmental Organization
Partners - Other Interesting Links
Source:
Division
Childhood and Adolescence
[ Public
Health Agency of Canada ]
------
From
the United Nations Association in Canada
Universal
Children's Day
"After the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
was adopted in 1989, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries choose
a day to promote children's welfare. Although observance of the day varies from
country to country, the Government of Canada designated November 20th as National
Child Day, to commemorate the day on which both the Declaration on the Rights
of the Child (1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) were
adopted."
- Canadian
Connections: Canada and Children's Rights
- Suggested
Activities for Universal Children's Day
- Links
------
From
the Canadian Child Care Federation:
November
20 : National Child Day - "I Have the Right to Play!"
National
Child Day is a day when people across the country take time to celebrate Canada's
most precious resource — our children. This year, join us in celebrating
the occasion by building awareness of Canada’s commitment to a child’s
right to play.
- incl. links to the news release (see below), the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a speech and a letter from
Senator Landon Pearson, and other resources...
Canadian
Child Care Federation Launches Children’s Rights Learning Kit on National
Child Day
News Release
November 18, 2005
"In celebration
of National Child Day (November 20), the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF)
today announced the launch of its Children’s Rights in Practice Learning
Kit. This innovative tool has been developed to help early learning and child
care practitioners understand the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child and how it affects the children in their care"
------
From
the Canadian Children's Rights Council:
Canada's
National Child Day
"National Child Day's purpose is to promote
awareness in Canada of the Convention. It is also a day to support Canadian children's
rights by voicing your concerns about Canadian children's rights violations to
the politicians of Canada and to educate our children about their rights and responsibilities."
What's
Right for Some: Portrait of Canada's first generation
growing up under the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (PDF file - 1.3MB, 45 pages)
"(...)
The Convention on the Rights of the Child came into international effect eighteen
years ago. This year, the first generation of children born with these universal
rights leave their childhoods officially behind them. Has the well-being of this
"first rights generation" improved? UNICEF Canada took the temperature
of this generation and we find that, while there has been some progress for some
children in some places, for too many children we've stalled or even regressed
in some aspects of their health, development and protection..."
Children
Must Be a Priority in Canada: UNICEF Canada Says
UNICEF
Canada Calls for National Children's Commissioner to Protect Children's Rights
September
28, 2007
Despite the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
18 years ago, children in Canada continue to live in poverty and their voices
remain largely unheard, Nigel Fisher, President & CEO of UNICEF Canada, said
today at a forum on children's rights.
Source:
News
Blaze
The
First Rights Generation Comes of Age
On November 20, 2007, the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) turns eighteen. Young people celebrating their
eighteenth birthday this year are the first generation born with universal rights
of their own. Have their childhood experiences with rights been something to celebrate?
UNICEF
Canada's petition for a National Children's Commissioner
"UNICEF
Canada believes a national Children’s Commissioner is crucial to focus national
responsibility and accountability for the implementation of the Convention in
Canada’s federal system."
Share
your views on what it is like to be a child/young person in Canada and
what needs to be done to improve the conditions in which children grow up.
Your
views will inform the next Canadian report to the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Past
conference:
A
Canada Fit For Children: A South Asian Plan of Action
September
13-14, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
"South Asia Partnership Canada,
the Canadian Society for International Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of
Canada, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the Children and Armed Conflict
Working Group of the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee, UNICEF Canada
and Action Canada for Population and Development invite you to a participatory
conference to accelerate the implementation of “A Canada Fit for Children”,
Canada’s National Plan of Action in South Asia.
Background
On
April 22, 2004, the Canadian Government submitted A Canada Fit For Children, Canada's
official response to its commitment for a National Plan of Action for children
made at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children in May
2002. An important feature of this plan is what Canada will do internationally
to help children. This participatory conference will focus on South Asia, where
there is the greatest concentration of people - and children - in poverty."
Conference
Program
Online Registration
Subscribe
to Children's Issues in South Asia On-Line Discussion
20 Aug 2004
"The
Canada Fit for Children (CFC) list-server starting on August 23, 2004, is an advance
discussion for conference participants and those who cannot attend in Canada and
in South Asia.
(...)Once you subscribe, you will then be able to post and receive
messages from like-minded colleagues from South Asia, Canada and other parts of
the world. The dialogue will be moderated and compiled for presentation to the
conference plenary in September."
Source:
South
Asia Partnership Canada
"South Asia Partnership Canada serves as a
forum of Canadian organizations that, together and with South Asian partners,
works for sustainable human development in the region. SAP Canada works on three
major themes: Peace and Security, Governance and Democracy, and Sustainable Livelihoods."
The
Road to the UN Special Session on Children
UNICEF Canada Press Releases
August 27, 2001
Process Behind Session Is Noteworthy in Its Own Right
April 26, 2001
Canadian
NGO's unite in international children's rights campaign:
Say Yes for Children
initiative takes hold around the world
Related
Link:
Say
Yes for Children (UNICEF) - [you'll find more UNICEF links further down
on this page]
The
United Nations Special Session on Children
30+ links to : Background
information - Objectives of the Special Session on Children - Canada's participation
in the Special Session on Children - Main documents related to the 1990 World
Summit for Children - Main documents for the United Nations Special Session on
Children - Reports from the Government of Canada - Reports from Canadian NGOs
- Main documents from the NGO Committee - PrepCom Reports - Alternative NGO Text
Prepared by the Child Rights Caucus for the NGO Committee on UNICEF, April 2002
- Related websites.
National
Child Day 2006 — November 20
"I Have the Right to be Heard!"
The
Canadian Child Care Federation has chosen "the right to be heard" as
its theme for National Child Day 2006. As supporting documentation, the United
Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has also selected Article 12 as their
"Day of General Discussion" in September ( Geneva). CCCF is preparing
a research paper under this theme and will be submitting it to the United Nations
for consideration.
Interaction
The
Fall 2006 issue of Interaction (vol. 20, no. 3) examines Article 12 of the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the child’s right to be heard.
Features include a paper submitted to the UN’s day of discussion, a column
by child rights advocate Landon Pearson, and an interview with international children’s
rights consultant Gerrison Lansdown.
Click
here to read these feature articles online
or
Visit
the E-Store to order a hard copy of the full issue.
| National
Children's Alliance
"The National Children's Alliance is a network
of 54 national organizations committed to improving the lives of children and
youth in Canada." |
National
Children’s Alliance Newsletter - December 2003 (PDF file - 291K,
9 pages)
In this Issue:
- Towards Working Together
for Aboriginal Children in Canada– A National Children's Agenda (NCA) Workshop
- October 29th 2003
- Community Infrastructure Fund Update
- Keeping the
Promise – The Role of Monitoring in the Advocacy of the NCA” - NCA Workshop
November 27th –28th, 2003
- National Plan of Action
- Brief to the
Standing Committee on Finance
- China Delegation Visit (November 11)
- Meeting
with Minister Stewart (October 20, 2003)
- National Children’s Alliance
Member News
- more...
The
National Children's Alliance and A Rights Based Approach: Setting the Context
for Discussion and Action (PDF file - 311K,
29 pages)
April 2003
National
Children's Alliance: Recommendations for Canada's National Plan of Action for
Children (PDF file - 142K, 6 pages)
June 2003
| Canadian
Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC)
The Canadian Coalition
for the Rights of Children (CCRC) has been representing children's organizations
in Canada since 1989. The CCRC brings together Canadian organizations and individuals
who are concerned about the rights of children. |
Canada's
Record on Children's Rights - September 2007
The
CCRC thinks Canadians have a right to know what Canada was asked to do in 2003
when its Second Report on the Rights of Children was reviewed. If the 45 recommendations
were followed, children in Canada would benefit. Read the overview to learn what
this means for children, and get additional information on specific issues in
the background notes. Canada reports again in 2009. It is time to take action
on the 2003 recommendations to improve our record.
- incl. links to :
*
Overview - 2003 Review of Canada’s Record * Non-Discrimination * Best Interests
of the Child * Accountability * CRC and Canadian Law * CRC and Basic Services
* Vulnerable Groups
Children: Silenced Citizens?
In
2004 the Senate Human Rights Committee began a study of Canada's international
obligations in relation to the rights of children in Canada. The final report
in 2007, Children: The Silenced Citizens, makes 24 recommendations to bring Canada
into compliance with our legal obligations. The government must respond to the
report by mid-November 2007.
Resources
About Children's Rights In Canada
- list of resources about the Convention
on the Rights of the Child including the full text of the convention, information
booklets, and a classroom curriculum.
Tools
for Monitoring Children's Rights in Canada
| Campaign
2000 UNSSC website
The UN Special Session on Children: A Promise to
Act
- incl. links to : Introduction - Resolution - Letter to the PM
- 6 steps you can take - Status report - Related links - Contacts |
6
steps you can take for children's rights in Canada
- from the
UN Special Session on
Children: A Promise to Act
Source:
Campaign
2000
Also from Campaign 2000:
Take
action to end child poverty in Canada
September 16 to October 17th
has been identified as a month of action by the international Make Poverty History
campaign. October 17th is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Here in Canada the focus is on the demand to End Child Poverty in Canada. In Ontario,
anti-poverty groups have declared October 16-20th to be Action Against Poverty
Week. Over 1 million children in Canada live below the poverty line – that’s
1 in every 6 children and youth under 18 years of age.
Join
us to raise awareness about child and youth poverty in Canada.
Want
to send a message to our politicians that we can and need to do something about
it?
* Send
a message to the Prime Minister and Opposition Leaders
* Send
a message to your Member of Parliament.
* Activities
for Students and Teachers.
* Check our Events
Calendar to find out about events happening in your community.
* If in
Ontario, send
a message to Premier McGuinty and Opposition Leaders
* Visit
the Make Poverty History web site to find out how you can participate in other
activities and actions.
* Campaign
2000 Partners - 100+ links to national and provincial/territorial organizations
across Canada
Developing
a National Plan of Action for Canada's Children
Campaign 2000
February
2003
Source:
Campaign 2000
UN Special Session on Children website
The UN Special Session on Children:
A Promise to Act
- incl. links to : Introduction - Resolution - Letter
to the PM - 6 steps you can take - Status report - Related links - Contacts
Putting
Promises Into Action : A Report on a Decade of Child and Family Poverty in Canada,
May 2002 (PDF file - 297K, 16 pages)
May 2002
[version
française]
"A comprehensive plan of social investments
for children will promote an inclusive society and contribute to an enriched economic
and social environment. These investments are essential to providing Canada's,
and the world's children, with the best start and an equal opportunity to succeed."
Source : Campaign 2000
Canada's
PM develops stage fright for UN Children’s Session (April 30,
2002)
Letter
to Prime Minister Chretien on the occasion of the UN Special Session on Children
(April 16, 2002)
| Save
the Children Canada
"Save the Children
Canada is a non-political, non-sectarian organization that has spent 80 years
working to protect the children of the world from neglect, cruelty and exploitation.
The organization's role has ranged from giving emergency aid to starving young
victims, to supporting children, families and communities in developing countries
and at home in Canada."
|
UN
Urges Canada to Demonstrate Greater Accountability to Children
Press
Release
"TORONTO, October 8, 2003 --- Canada received sharp criticism
from the UN regarding its compliance to the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child, and its efforts to improve the lives of Canadian children. Leading
child rights agency, Save the Children Canada sees this critique as necessary
to compel action to deliver real and lasting change for all Canadian children."
Canada
to do more for Children's Rights
"Canada must improve its
overall response to children, beginning with efforts to seriously address the
root causes of children's problems - poverty, discrimination, attitudes towards
children, the inability to sustain basic services, the lack of political will
to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child."
- incl.
links to :
UN
Urges Canada to Demonstrate Greater Accountability to Children (PDF
file - 14K, 2 pages)
October 8, 2003 - News Release
Save
the Children Canada Recommendation (PDF file - 18K, 2 pages)
August
2001
How
Does Canada Measure Up? (PDF file - 566K, 74 pages)
May 2003
First
NGO Progress Report (PDF file - 130K, 52 pages)
February 2001
Related
Links:
International
Save the Children alliance
"The International Save the Children
alliance comprises 32 organisations working in over 120 countries around the world
[including Canada - see below]. Save the Children fights for children's rights.
We deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children's lives worldwide."
12
Lessons Learned from Children’s Participation
in the UN General Assembly
Special Session on Children (PDF file - 939K,
34 pages)
May 2004
"This report, produced by the Child Participation
Working Group of The International Save the Children Alliance, highlights 12 lessons
learned from Save the Children in supporting children's participation in the UN
Special Session on Children. Save the Children, working together with many partner
organisations, tried to create a framework of good practice to secure the meaningful
involvement of children and young people in the whole process. Among the key issues
that were addressed along the way, and are described in this report, are the selection
of under 18 representatives, child protection, translation and interpretation,
'child friendly' documents, work with the media, evaluation and follow up. The
report includes a preface from Senator Landon Pearson."
Source:
International
Save the Children Alliance
"The International Save the Children Alliance
is the world’s leading independent child rights organisation with members
in 29 countries and operational programmes in more than 100."
Highly
recommended site - tons of content!
"The Canadian Children's Rights Council
was formed in the early 1990's to monitor compliance of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child in Canada. (...) We are a non-profit, non governmental
educational and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting the rights and responsibilities
of Canadian children. (...) We are a member of the Child
Rights Information Network (CRIN), an international, world-wide organization
which is comprised of over 2000 member children's rights organizations."
-
covers many aspects of children's rights, including child poverty, child and youth
justice, children's identity rights, child protection, parental alienation syndrome
and much more...
- large section devoted to education about the U.N. Convention
on the Rights of the Child + analysis of the Government of Canada's actions and
reports to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Canadian
Children's Rights Council Links
- 200+ links in the following areas:
* United Nations * Human Rights Commissions in Canada * Human Rights Commissions
in countries other than Canada * Child Genital Mutilation * Child Abuse * The
Child Rights Information Network (CRIN ) * Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
* Youth Suicide * Children's Identity Rights / Children's Identity Fraud / Paternity
Fraud * Child Poverty * ADHD - Ritlan * National Child Day * Canadian Family Law
/ Parent support Groups * Canadian University Human Rights Related Sites * International
Children's Rights Links * Non-Canadian University / College Human Rights Related
Sites * Canadian University Law Schools * Other Links of Interest
Table
of Contents - large collection of online resources, mostly news articles.
Canada's
National Child Day
"National Child Day's purpose is to promote
awareness in Canada of the Convention. It is also a day to support Canadian children's
rights by voicing your concerns about Canadian children's rights violations to
the politicians of Canada and to educate our children about their rights and responsibilities."
Un
Québec digne des enfants : le plan d’action pour les enfants
(fichier PDF - 420Ko., 38 pages)
[NOTE: this document is available only
in French. It is Québec's report to the UN Special Session on Children]
Services à la famille
27 janvier 2005
Ce document fait suite
à la Session extraordinaire des Nations Unies consacrée aux enfants
qui s’est tenue à New York en mai 2002. À cette occasion, les
États membres, dont le Canada, ont renouvelé leurs engagements de
fixer de nouveaux objectifs afin de mieux soutenir les enfants.
Source:
Ministère
de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (page d'accueil en français
du Ministère)
Ministère
de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (English home page of the Ministry)
Liens
connexes:
Plan
d'action national pour les enfants [du site de l'Agence
de santé publique]
Les
droits de l'enfant (une page de liens sur le site que vous visitez présentement)
Agence
de santé publique (ministère du gouvernement fédéral)
Response
to Senator Pearson's Plan for Children (PDF file - 57K, 2 pages)
January 2004
"The National Child Benefit (NCB) also has a significant
impact on levels of child poverty. Manitoba experienced a decrease in food bank
use between March 2002 and 2003 of 9% - the only province in Canada that witnessed
a decline in food bank clients. Correspondingly, 2003 was also the year the Manitoba
government began to phase out the clawback of the NCB, allowing more funds to
flow directly to the families who need them the most."
[Excerpt]
Related Links:
Canada's
National Plan of Action (Senator Landon Pearson's website)
Canada's
National Plan of Action for Children Website (Health Canada)
| Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
"The United Nations
vision is of a world in which the human rights of all are fully respected and
enjoyed in conditions of global peace. The High Commissioner works to keep that
vision to the forefront through constant encouragement of the international community
and its member States to uphold universally agreed human rights standards." |
Concluding
Observations of the Committee on
the Rights of the Child: CANADA
(PDF file - 185K, 14 pages)
October 3, 2003
UN
Committee on the rights of the child
Implementing
Child Rights in Early Childhood (MS Word file - 197K, 23 pages)
November
1, 2005
"This General Comment arises out of the Committee's experiences
of reviewing States parties' reports. In many cases, very little information has
been offered about early childhood, with comments limited mainly to child mortality,
birth registration and health care. The Committee felt the need for a discussion
on the broader implications of the Convention on the Rights of the Child for young
children. Accordingly, in 2004, the Committee devoted its Day of General Discussion
to the theme of Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood. This resulted in
a set of recommendations (see CRC/C/143) as well as the decision to prepare a
General Comment on this important topic."
Source:
Committee
on the Rights of the Child
[ Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ]
Day
of discussion on the rights of indigenous children
19 September 2003
-
Outline
-
Guidelines
(PDF)
- Programme
[version
française du programme]
Documents
submitted for the Day of General Discussion (19 September 2003) on "The Rights
of Indigenous Children"
Second
periodic reports of States parties due in 1999 : Canada (PDF file
- 992K, 284 pages)
March 12, 2003
- second report submitted by Canada under
the terms of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- contains information
on measures adopted by the Government of Canada and the provincial and territorial
governments to ensure the protection of children’s rights in Canada.
-
covers (mainly) the period of January 1993 to December 1997 (with occasional
exceptions).
"While the ratification of international treaties is the
prerogative of the Government of Canada, implementation of the treaties requires
the active participation of the governments which have jurisdiction over the subject
matters covered. In Canada, the responsibility for areas covered by the Convention
on the Rights of the Child is shared by the Government of Canada, the provincial
governments and, following a delegation of authority by the Parliament of Canada,
the territorial governments."
List
of points : Canada
Implementation of the Convention on the Rights
of the Child
List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration
of the second periodic report of Canada
July 3, 2003
Committee on the
Rights of the Child, 34th Session
Pre-sessional Working Group
10 –
13 June 2003
Delegation
List (small PDF file, 2 pages)
October 2003
- Canadian Government
officials in Geneva
Delegation Statement
Opening
Statement by Senator Landon Pearson on
Presentation of Canada's Second Report
-
Convention on the Rights of the Child (PDF file - 750K, 16 pages)
September
17, 2003
UNHCHR
Children's Rights - documents, news and links
Convention
on the Rights of the Child
Source:
Committee
on the Rights of the Child
[ Office
of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights ]
From UN
News from Geneva :
Committee
on rights of child holds Spring session in Geneva - May 15 to June
2
News Release
11 May 2006
Situation of Child Rights in El Salvador,
Belgium, Latvia, Italy, Canada [bolding added], Turkey, Czech Republic,
Qatar, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Lebanon, Turkmenistan,
Iceland, and Colombia to be Reviewed
"(...) Belgium, Canada, and the Czech
Republic will be reviewed in closed meetings, during which technical reviews of
their reports on the implementation of the Optional Protocol on the involvement
of children in armed conflict will take place. "
Committee
on the Rights of the Child 42nd Session (15 May - 2 June 2006)
- scroll
down the page until you reach the Canada flag in the left-hand margin, under Optional
Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. From there, you
can select State report, List of issues, Written replies, Concluding observations
(although the text of the Concluding observations (far-right column) wasn't yet
posted as of May 21.
Committee
on Rights of the Child Concludes 37th Session,
Adopts Conclusions on Reports
from Brazil, Botswana, Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Antigua
and Barbudan
Press Document
October 1, 2004
Committee
on Rights of Children Opens Thirty-Seventh Session (Sept. 13 - Oct.
1)
Press document
September 13, 2004
"The Committee on the Rights
of the Child this morning opened its thirty-seventh session by hearing an address
by the Chief of the Treaty and Commission Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights and adopting its agenda and programme of work."
United
Nations Committee on Rights of the Child holds
Day of General Discussion on
Early Childhood Development
Press Document
September 17, 2004
"The
Committee on the Rights of the Child today held a day of general discussion on
implementing child rights in early childhood. After hearing opening statements
from representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
the United Nations Children Fund, the World Health Organization and the Bernard
van Leer Foundation, the participants who came from a wide spectrum of non-governmental
organizations and United Nations agencies separated into two working groups to
discuss starting sound practices to promote the rights to survival and development
of young children and on young children as full actors of their own development.
(...) Based on the day of general discussion, the Committee will adopt recommendations
which will be made public at the end of the session on 1 October."
Related
Press Documents (from the UN Office in Geneva)
- links to 70+ documents
from the UN Committee on the Rights of Children from the current and previous
sessions
CRINMAIL
- email newsletter (recent selections):
24
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 977- Special Edition on Food
* Introduction:
What do soaring food prices mean for children?
* The Right to Food - and what
a rights-based approach means
* Publications and factsheets
* News stories
*
Organisation websites
**Other news**
**Quiz
special on the Right to Food**
22
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 976
* BELGIUM: The detention of immigrant children
[news]
* TURKEY: Kurdish children victimised [news]
* CORPORAL PUNISHMENT:
Help at Hand Toolkit [publication]
* ENGLAND & WALES: Almost 3,000 children
in custody [news]
* INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT: Global Overview of Trends and Developments
in 2007 [publication]
* AFGHANISTAN: Millions of children, mainly girls, still
not attending school [news]
* EMPLOYMENT - APSA (India)
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
10
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 973
* UN: Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities enters into force [news]
* IRAQ: Around 1,350 children languishing
in jails [news]
* SOUTH AFRICA: Signing of Children's Act welcomed [news]
*
CANADA: Immigration rules on child separation [news]
* ISRAEL: Reality show
'exploits children' [news]
* COMPETITION: Ibero-American Black and White Photography
[news]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
8
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 972
* AFRICA: African Human Rights Complaints
Handling Mechanisms - A descriptive analysis [publication]
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
Groundbreaking review launched [news]
*ECOWAS: 'Ex-slave' takes Niger to court
[news]
* VIOLENCE: Gender-Based Sexual Violence Against Teenage Girls in the
Middle East [publication]
* SUDAN: Five years on, no justice for sexual violence
in Darfur [publication]
* BUSINESS: Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice
[publication]
* SPAIN: Stop Child Trafficking International Congress [event]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
3
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 971
* IBERO-AMERICA: First Youth Rights Convention
[news]
* IRAN: Attacks against Bahá’í school children [publication]
*
CANADA: Ontario Court decision to jail indigenous leaders fails children [news]
*
OMBUDSWORK: Standing up for children's rights [publication]
* UNITED STATES:
Govt to triple cash for HIV and AIDS [news]
* MOZAMBIQUE: Scratching the surface
of child trafficking [news]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
1
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 970
* EUROPE: "The key to the promotion
of Roma rights: early and inclusive education" [publication]
* BOLIVIA:
Ombudsperson to challenge military service law with international authorities
[news]
* SOMALIA: Crisis deteriorates, aid agencies warn [news]
* HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL: Mainstreaming child rights [news]
* GERMANY: European Master
in Childhood Studies and Children’s Rights [event]
* EMPLOYMENT - ISS
UK
**FROM THE FRONTLINE** Gilbert Onyango [interview]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
27
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 969
* SPECIAL PROCEDURES:
UN Human Rights Council approves candidates [news]
*
CONGO: Arrest over abduction of indigenous family's child [news]
*
CLIMATE CHANGE: State of the World's Minorities 2008 [publication]
*
EUROPE: Developing child rights indicators [call for information]
*
SCOTLAND: Sweet 16? The Age of Leaving Care in Scotland [publication]
*
UK: Children's rights and participation conference [event]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
25
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 968
* SAUDI ARABIA: Heavy price of unfair justice
system [publications]
* CHINA/ TIBET: China brands Dalai Lama a monster and
forces students to denounce him [news]
* AFGHANISTAN: Young migrants adrift
on the road to asylum [news]
* CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW: Campaign
for legal assistance [campaign and database]
* LIBERIA:
Special court for sexual violence underway [news]
*
FUNDING: International Deaf Children's Society small grants programme
*
COURSE: Monitoring children's rights [training]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
20
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 967
* URUGUAY: Torture denounced in young offenders
unit [news]
* NIGERIA: Desperate children swamp northern cities as food price
hikes bite [news]
* TURKEY: Child rights focus [news]
* EDUCATION: Short
survey on the right to education [publication]
* SOUTH AMERICA: MERCOSUR to
decide child rights action plan [event]
* UNITED KINGDOM: Realising Children's
Rights [event]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
18
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 966
* INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION: Child Rights
at the 131st Session [publication]
* EGYPT: New child rights laws signed [news]
*
HEALTH: Junk food advert code launched [news]
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: Review
of child rights Special Rapporteur role [news]
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: Side-event
on mainstreaming [event]
* EMPLOYMENT: CARE
**FROM THE FRONTLINE** Mary
Clarke, Jamaica's Children's Advocate [interview]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
13
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 965
Special edition on the UN Human Rights Council -
session 7
- UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: Child rights highlights [news]
-
NGO SIDE EVENTS: Round-up of child rights events [reports]
- UN: High Commissioner
for Human Rights Louise Arbour (Canada) to step down in June [news]
- UN SPECIAL
PROCEDURES: Facts and Figures 2007 [publication]
- INTERVIEW: Juan Miguel Petit
-
EMPLOYMENT: International Bureau for Children’s Rights [job posting]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
United
Nations Human Rights Council
In June 2006, the Human Rights Council
replaced the Commission on Human Rights as the main UN body in charge of monitoring
and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
Seventh
session of the Human Rights Council (Geneva, 3 - 28 March 2008)
Human
Rights Council News - includes the Draft
resolution on the rights of the child (14/03/2008)
Crinmail
Archive - Child Rights at the Human Rights Council
6
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 963
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: 7th session begins
[news]
* NGO SIDE EVENT: Mainstreaming the rights of the child at the Council
[event]
* BENIN: More than 40,000 children trafficked each year [news]
*
OPT: Gaza conditions 'at 40-year low' [news]
* EUROPE: Violence Against Children
in Conflict with the Law [publication]
* EMPLOYMENT - African Child Policy
Forum (4) - ENOC
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
4
March 2008 - CRINMAIL 962
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: NGO side event on
CRC communications procedure [event]
* MONITORING: Summary of the 2008 Special
Procedures Country Visits [publication]
* OPT: Children especially at risk
during Gaza bloodshed [news]
* SCOTLAND: Call to lift age limit on child hearings
[news]
* FINLAND: FICE 2008 Congress: Better Future for Children - Today [event]
*
EMPLOYMENT - UNICEF
**FROM THE FRONTLINE** Peter Newell [interview]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
7
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 955
* DEATH PENALTY: Child rights expert explains
Arab Charter [publication]
* IRAQ: al-Qaida 'training children' [news]
*
UNITED KINGDOM: Youth games exclusion for learning disabilities 'unlawful' [news]
*
VIOLENCE: International Day against Female Genital Mutilation [news]
* SOUTH
AFRICA: Rights groups slam Child Justice Bill [news]
* EMPLOYMENT - Bice -
SOS Kinderdorf - Save the Children Sweden
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
5
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 954
* COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD: 47th session
concludes [reports]
* UNITED STATES: Report shows teens more likely to reoffend
[news]
* LIBERIA: Govt concerned about high adoption rates [news]
* WORLD
BANK: The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa
[publication]
* UNITED KINGDOM: WorldForum 2008 Early Intervention and Prevention
[event]
* ARMED CONFLICT: Psycho-social webpage [call for papers]
**FROM
THE FRONT LINE"" Dr Philip Cook [interview]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
17
January 2008 - CRINMAIL 949
* KENYA: Genital mutilation used as a
weapon of war [news]
* VIOLENCE: Prohibiting corporal punishment of children:
A guide to legal reform and other measures [publication]
* EUROPE: A fifth
of European children live in poverty, says a new report [publication]
* JUVENILE
JUSTICE: Diverting child offenders from judicial proceedings [publication]
*
EMPLOYMENT - Edem's Children Foundation [volunteer opportunity]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
15
January 2008 - CRINMAIL 948
* PETITION: Campaign for a complaints procedure
under the Convention on the Rights of the Child
* COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF
THE CHILD: State Reports and Alternative Reports [publication]
*
ITALY: Separate school buses for traveller children proposed [news]
*
RIGHT TO INFORMATION: Twins' marriage sparks debate over rights of adoptees [news]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
27
December 2007 - CRINMAIL 944
* 2007 Child Rights
Round-Up
* Looking Forward: The big issues for 2008
** Quiz: End of Year
Special! **
Selected content:
A
big year for child rights was crowned last month with the follow-up to the UN
Special Session on Children in New York. Many participants agreed that the success
of the event, which was spread over several days, hinged on the participation
of children and NGOs. Although many were cheered and inspired by the enthusiasm
and dedication of the children, some also lamented the disproportionate amount
of time given to State delegates during the plenary session and one of the roundtable
discussions. You
can read all about the event in our special CRINMAIL, which documents the
Children’s Forum, roundtable and interactive discussions, the meeting of
children’s Ombudspersons, and two of the side events.
European
Union leaders signed the first treaty to include children’s rights. The
Lisbon Treaty will come into force only after ratification by all 27 Member States.
Read more about it here. Staying in the same part of the world, the Council of
Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS n° 197) will enter
into force on 1 February 2008, after Cyprus became the tenth country to ratify
it. Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said: “The
Convention is deliberately hard on traffickers and makes a clear difference for
the victims of this crime. These victims will be offered comprehensive assistance
and protection of their human rights. More on the Convention.
It
has been a big year for CRIN too, with a website makeover and the launch of our
new legal database among the main gains. You can now find out about regional
mechanisms and what they do for child rights, work your way around the UN system
and find out which child rights laws apply in your country. We launched two
Reviews (formerly called the Newsletter) on the subjects of Emergencies and
the 18th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The
Universal Declaration
of Human Rights will turn 60 on 10 December 2008!
-----------------------------------------------------
12
December 2007 - CRINMAIL 941
Special Edition on the 'World Fit for Children'
Follow-Up Event
* Quotes from the event
* Report from Children's
Forum and Ombudsmen meeting
* Day One from the 'World Fit For Children' follow-up
event [report]
* Day Two from the 'World Fit For Children' follow-up event
[report]
**OTHER NEWS**
**QUIZ**
Related link:
Canada's
National Action Plan for Children (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Earlier
issues of CRINMAIL
- links to 200+ earlier weekly issues, many
of which are special editions focusing on special themes, such as the 45th Session
of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of the
Child and the launch of the EURONET Website.
Day
of General Discussion 2007: Resources for the Rights of the Child - responsibility
of States*
September 21, 2007
Geneva, Switzerland4
The
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child devoted its 2007 Day of General Discussion
to the subject "Resources for the Rights of the Child - Responsibility of
States", Investments for the Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights of Children and International Cooperation (CRC article 4).
*NOTE:
this page contains links to 30+ recent NGO submissions and contributions to the
Committee
Related
links:
Committee
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) news page
General
information on Discussion Days
UN
OHCHR - Committee on the Rights of the Child
Office
of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR): Day of General Discussion
Committee
on rights of child holds discussion with state parties to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child:
States Parties Support Two Chamber Proposal for Committee
Press
document
January 23, 2004
"The Committee on the Rights of the Child
this morning exchanged views with representatives of States parties to the Convention
on the Rights of the Child during which the Committee’s proposal to divide
its work into two chambers was discussed. Many representatives of States parties
expressed support for the idea of splitting the Committee into two chambers which
would consider different country reports simultaneously. This would allow the
Committee to reduce the backlog of reports it was currently facing."
Committee
on the Rights of the Child Considers Second Periodic Report of Canada
Press
Release
September 17, 2003
"The Committee on the Rights of the Child
today considered the second periodic report of Canada on how that country was
implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child."
Committee
on the Rights of the Child to hold Thirty_Fourth Session in Geneva from September
15 to October 3, 2003
Press Release
September 10, 2003
"The
Committee on the rights of the child is holding its thirty-fourth session in Geneva
from 15 September to 3 October 2003 to review reports from San Marino, Canada,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Madagascar, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Bangladesh and
Georgia."
| UNICEF
Innocenti Research Centre (Florence, Italy)
"UNICEF Innocenti
Research Centre (IRC) works to strengthen the capacity of UNICEF and its cooperating
institutions to respond to the evolving needs of children and to develop a new
global ethic for children." |
Summary
report of the study on the impact of the
implementation of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child (PDF file - 742K, 30 pages)
November
2004
"The reports of the CRC Implementation Report will further develop
a UNICEF IRC study on the impact of the Convention on the Rights of Child through
a distinctive focus on “general measures of implementation” of the CRC
– measures that make possible the sustained monitoring, promotion and protection
of child rights. The first report will analyze the national experiences of 30
States from Europe and Latin-Caribbean regions in implementing the general measures
of implementation of the CRC. This report will also analyze regional strengths,
achievements and challenges faced in this regard."
[NOTE: includes references
to Canada]
| Child Rights
Information Network
"The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)
is a global network based in the U.K. that disseminates information about the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and child rights amongst non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organisation
(IGOs), educational institutions, and other child rights experts."
-
LARGE site - containing references to hundreds of publications, recent news and
upcoming events, as well as details of organisations working worldwide for children.
The site also includes NGO reports reports submitted to the UN Committee on the
Rights of the Child.
The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) continues
to be one of the largest networks within the global child rights community. Approximately
1,300 child rights organisations in 137 countries have joined CRIN. |
Child
Rights in the European Union
At present, the European Union (EU)
institution has no obligation to respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC). However, all EU Member States as individuals are bound to it as they
ratified the Convention.
Related links:
European
Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC)
Established in 1997, ENOC
links independent offices for children from twelve countries in Europe. Its aims
are:
* to encourage the fullest possible implementation of the Convention on
the Rights of the child,
* to support collective lobbying for children’s
rights,
* to share information, approaches and strategies,
* and to promote
the development of effective independent offices for children.
European
Children's Network (EURONET)
The European Children's Network - EURONET
- is a coalition of networks and organisations campaigning for the interests and
rights of children (defined in the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
as all persons under 18 years of age). They share a common concern that children's
rights should be taken into account in all EU legislation, policies and programmes
which have an impact on children's rights.
Children
as Change Agents: A review of child participation
in the periodic reporting
on the Convention of the Rights of the Child (773K, 20 pages)
Published
by Child Rights Information Network
(CRIN) and World
Vision Canada
File date: November 2007
This report examines "meaningful"
and "ethical" children's participation but essentially, it means that
children's participation must be guided by the general principles of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child, namely: non-discrimination, the best interest of the
child, the right to life, survival and development and respect for the child's
views.
Children
as Change Agents: Guidelines for child participation
in the periodic reporting
on the Convention of the Rights of the Child (PDF file - 1.7MB, 76
pages)
[Summary
+ links to further resources]
Published by Child
Rights Information Network (CRIN) and World
Vision Canada
Report analyses alternative reports that have included children.
The guidelines respond to the gap in information concerning children's involvement
in the reporting process, and hope to promote and strengthen children's meaningful
participation within this area.
Source:
Child
Rights Information Network
**********CRINMAIL
Updates
by email (incl. subscription info)
Sample issues
of CRINMAIL:
17
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 975
* OPT: Child prisoners - lawyers say 'no
more deals' [publication]
* CRC: Review of the Concluding Observations: Non
Discrimination, Disability and Ethnic Rights [publication]
* YEMEN: Eight-year-old
escapes husband and gets divorce [news]
* FRANCE: Anorexia in media targeted
[news]
* EMERGENCIES: Child Protection in Emergencies, Priorities, Principles
and Practices [publication]
* EMPLOYMENT - Save the Children Sweden/Norway
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
15
April 2008 - CRINMAIL 974
* CHINA: Denied Status, Denied Education,
Children of North Korean Women in China [publication]
* FOOD: World Bank echoes
food cost alarm [news]
* SIERRA LEONE: Country at a Crossroads: Challenges
Facing Young People in Sierra Leone Six Years after the War [publication]
*
OPT: Tough justice for West Bank children in Israeli military courts [news]
*
RUSSIA: Duma adopts law on protection of orphans [news]
* EMPLOYMENT - Save
the Children Sweden
**FROM THE FRONTLINE** David Maidment [interview]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
28
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 961
* JAMAICA: Infants face severe punishment,
says violence expert [publication]
* CHILD LABOUR: ‘Out of work and into
school’ - Action Plan for Companies to Combat Child labour [publication]
*
ZIMBABWE: UN says child abuse getting worse [news]
* UNITED KINGDOM: Fearful
schools banning staff from touching children [news]
* INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION:
131st Session [event]
* EMPLOYMENT - Save the Children Sweden - Human Rights
Law Network
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
26
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 960
* UGANDA: Parliament Push for Child Rights
Law [news]
* RUSSIA: Choking on Bureaucracy: State Curbs on Independent Civil
Society Activism [publication]
* *CRIN's ten minute survey: Simply reply to
this CRINMAIL*
* NEPAL: Children should not take part in violent political
action, say UN agencies [news]
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: Session 7 [event]
*
ETHIOPIA: Third International Policy Conference on the African Child [event]
**NEWS
IN BRIEF**
21
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 959
* CRC Communications Procedure: Lobbying
pack [publication]
* DISABILITY: New website for professionals working with
disabled children [publication]
* EDUCATION: Fears over child rights education
misplaced [news]
* PARTICIPATION: Empowering Young People [publication]
*
JUVENILE JUSTICE: Call for research and PhD papers
* EMPLOYMENT - Save the
Children Sweden
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
19
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 958
* INDIA: Teacher abuse driving children
from school, says govt [news]
* COTE D'IVOIRE-GHANA: Efforts too small to curb
child labour on cocoa farms [news]
* PHILIPPINES: Judge alarmed over cases
vs. minors [news]
* CHILD MORTALITY: Saving Children's Lives - Why Equity Matters
[publication]
* UK/INDIA: Realising Children’s Rights: Comparative and
Socio-Legal Perspectives [event]
* AFRICAN COMMISSION: 4th Extraordinary Session
[event]
**FROM THE FRONTLINE: Qindeel Shujaat** [interview]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
14
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 957
* SCOTLAND: Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty.
The Rights and Status of the Children of Prisoners in Scotland [publication]
*
CZECH REPUBLIC: Effort to grant child victims right to privacy [news]
* PAKISTAN:
Child suicide bombers “victims of the most brutal exploitation” [news]
*
UN: Security Council Should Act Against Child Recruiters [news]
* USA: Their
Fair Share: How Texas-sized gaps in teacher quality shortchange poor and minority
students [publication]
* EMPLOYMENT - War Child - ECPAT - DCI International/Save
the Children Sweden
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
12
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 956
* CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: Make Me A Criminal,
Preventing Youth Crime [publication]
* CRIN's ten minute survey: Simply reply
to this CRINMAIL
* AUSTRALIA: Vow on aboriginal child mortality [news]
*
HUNGARY: Active Citizenship: Democratic Practices in Education [event/call for
papers]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
7
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 955
* DEATH PENALTY: Child rights expert explains
Arab Charter [publication]
* IRAQ: al-Qaida 'training children' [news]
*
UNITED KINGDOM: Youth games exclusion for learning disabilities 'unlawful' [news]
*
VIOLENCE: International Day against Female Genital Mutilation [news]
* SOUTH
AFRICA: Rights groups slam Child Justice Bill [news]
* EMPLOYMENT - Bice -
SOS Kinderdorf - Save the Children Sweden
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**
5
February 2008 - CRINMAIL 954
* COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD: 47th session
concludes [reports]
* UNITED STATES: Report shows teens more likely to reoffend
[news]
* LIBERIA: Govt concerned about high adoption rates [news]
* WORLD
BANK: The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa
[publication]
* UNITED KINGDOM: WorldForum 2008 Early Intervention and Prevention
[event]
* ARMED CONFLICT: Psycho-social webpage [call for papers]
**FROM
THE FRONT LINE"" Dr Philip Cook [interview]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
Earlier
issues of CRINMAIL
- links to 200+ earlier weekly issues, many
of which are special editions focusing on special themes, such as the 45th Session
of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of the
Child and the launch of the EURONET Website.
---------------------------------------------------
Committee
on the Rights of the Child News
This page features resources and news
updates on the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child as well as information
on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- incl.
links to : CRC sessions - NGO Group session reports - Alternative reports - CRC
CRINMAILs - Concluding Observations - Follow-up workshops to Concluding Observations
- General Discussion Days - CRC General Comments - CRC Decisions - Children's
rights at the Commission on Human Rights - CRC training material - Reform of the
UN human rights Treaty Bodies
Also from CRIN:
8
June 2007 - CRINMAIL CRC 10: 45th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the
Child
- CRC SESSION REPORTS: Kazakhstan, Maldives, Slovak Republic,
Uruguay, Bangladesh, Guatemala
- CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS: Committee on the
Rights of the Child issues recommendations to States Parties
24
May 2007 - CRINMAIL 883
Special Edition on the 45th Session of the Committee
on the Rights of the Child
- incl. links to:
- COMMITTEE ON
THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: 45th Session information
- ELECTIONS: 45th Session
opens with election of new chairperson
- STATES PARTIES INFORMATION: State
Reports and Alternative Reports
- DAY OF GENERAL DISCUSSION 2007: "Resources
for the rights of the child - responsibility of States"
- EMPLOYMENT -
ECPAT International - Save the Children UK [job postings]
**QUIZ**
Further
information:
* NGO
Group Session reports
* State
Reports for the 45th Session
* NGO
Alternative Reports
* CRC news page
on the CRIN website
* CRINMAILs
on the Committee Sessions
---------------------------------------------------
CRINMAIL
853 - February 2007
Special Edition on the 44th Session of the UN Committee
on the Rights of the Child
Table of contents:
- Committee on the
Rights of the Child: 44th session closes
- State reports and Alternative reports
-
Committee on the Rights of the Child issues its Concluding Observations
- General
Comment No. 10: Children's Rights in Juvenile Justice
- Elections to the Committee
on the Rights of the Child to be held this month
- Montenegro becomes the 193rd
State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
--------------------------------------------------
CRINMAIL
798
Special Edition on the G8
18 July 2006
-
JUNIOR 8: Young People Share Their Views with G8 Leaders [news]
-
NGOS: G8 Failing to Act Ambitiously to Tackle Poverty [statements]
-
AFRICA: Progress and Next Steps [report]
- EDUCATION:
UNESCO Director-General Speaks of Financial Gap [news]
-
RUSSIAN FEDERATION: President Vladimir Putin Must Review Legislation on Civil
Society [news]
- CIVIL SOCIETY: Recommendations Presented
at Civil G8 2006 [recommendations]
- RESOURCES: Reviews
and How-Tos
- EMPLOYMENT: ECPAT International - Consortium
for Street Children [job postings]
Child
Rights Information Network (CRIN) web page on the 2005 WTO conference in Hong
Kong (see the links below):
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6717&flag=event
NOTE:
all 15 WTO links in this section are from the CRINMAIL (e-mail newsletter) #739:
Special Edition on the World Trade Organisation Talks"
You can find the
entire issue (#739) here:
http://www.domeus.co.uk/forum/crinmail_english
I
can't offer you the exact link to issue 739 because the CRIN website is down for
"maintenance" today,
