Renewed efforts to protect children’s rights

215 Children And A Few Hundred Thousand More

For over a century, hundreds of thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were violently removed from their families and communities across Canada and sent to residential schools. This year, some grisly discoveries were made, with hundreds of graves found near some of these schools, sparking outrage among the Canadian public. Unfortunately, this is just the visible tip of a much bigger problem that dates back more than 100 years and persists today: the violation of the fundamental rights of all those children.

The IBCR published a press release to remind the Government of Canada of its obligations and to stress the work that remains ahead of us to safeguard Aboriginal children's rights to health, education, protection, participation, cultural freedom and identity.

Justice must also be served so that the children of today can learn about their history and benefit from reconciliation. In addition, reporting mechanisms must be established and made available to children and families.

Child labour: Where are we at?

It's estimated that 160 million children work worldwide, often forcibly and in hazardous conditions, which can be detrimental to their health and development. This number has been rising in recent years, prompting the UN to designate 2021 as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. In June of that same year, the IBCR moderated a virtual conference organised by the Greater Montreal branch of the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada).

Approximately 40 people attended, learning about child labour, its various forms and how the issue was exacerbated by the pandemic. The discussions also covered migration issues and the importance of child-rights training for all those who interact with children in the course of their work.

The group also discussed the need for effective protection systems that ensure all children have access to health and education services and that can identify and punish employers who use child labour. Governments around the world need to make a serious effort to reduce and prevent child labour for the long term.

Focusing on care and prevention in Quebec

Once again this year, the IBCR participated in the Grande semaine des tout-petits in Quebec by co-signing an open letter with the Collectif petite enfance, the group behind this initiative. The letter emphasised the importance of prevention and the need for caring communities to protect young children. It also mentioned the need to follow up on the recommendations made by the Laurent Commission (see our previous reports) on child protection in the province.

Prevention was a central theme in this year's message. It's an essential prerequisite for healthy and harmonious family relationships and for reducing or eliminating the factors that put child wellness at risk. Having strong communities bolstered by mutual support and collective action can help ensure that as many children as possible grow up in homes free of violence, abuse and neglect.

The annual event aims to give a voice to Quebec's youngest citizens and make early childhood a leading social priority.

By working together, we can build the caring community they so desperately need.

- Collectif petite enfance

Children aren't just tomorrow's adults, they're today's citizens

In the fall of 2021, the International Bureau for Children's Rights published an article in Droits & Liberté, a journal that focuses on human rights. The article discussed the importance of child participation and served as a reminder that children shouldn't be viewed as vulnerable beings requiring protection; rather they must be considered as fully capable actors who can actively promote and defend their own rights. Child protection systems must support their right to participation by creating spaces and processes that give children the chance to participate in decisions that affect them.

"The right to be heard (also known as the right to participate) is one of the key principles set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This right implies that all children, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, religion or socio-economic status, can express their opinions and be fully involved in promoting their rights in their daily lives. Children have the right to participate in the debates and decisions that concern them, as well as in decisions concerning broader social issues or current affairs. Adults and institutions therefore have the duty to give children the opportunity and space to be heard."

- Excerpt from the article

The full article is available at www.ibcr.org/en

World Congress to promote equitable justice for and with children

This year, the IBCR has renewed its collaboration with Justice With Children by participating in the initiative's World Congress. Held every three years, this congress brings together children, politicians, legal experts, academics and members of civil society. It aims to address current issues related to children in contact or conflict with the law, while influencing the juvenile justice field, exploring best practices, encouraging scientific cooperation and raising awareness of child-friendly justice.

With access to justice for all children as its central theme, the 2021 edition covered the need to reduce discrimination, particularly when it compromises access to justice and quality services, as well as the need to ensure that all children are treated equally. The IBCR attended and hosted two workshops on the day dedicated to sub-Saharan Africa. The workshops addressed the topics of child participation and capacity building for personnel working within the child protection system, especially those in the justice sector.

During the congress, a scientific committee was created to finetune the strategies for training, research and advocacy that were proposed during the various discussions. Théophane Nikyèma, chair of the IBCR's board of directors, member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and Special Rapporteur on Children in Conflict with the Law, as well as Luis Pedernera, member of the IBCR's board of directors and chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (2017-2021) sat on the committee, acting as member and chair, respectively.

What makes the congress important is its international scope. The recommendations and best practices that emerge from the discussions will be shared widely, benefiting children in contact with the justice system.

- Théophane Nikyèma, chair of the IBCR Board of Directors and member of the Justice With Children Scientific Committee

UN-Secretary General's message on child rights and armed conflict

Every year, the Secretary-General of the United Nations submits a report to the UN Security Council on children in armed conflict. Appended to this report is a list of all the organisations or governments in conflict that have committed serious child rights violations. This list should reflect the situation in each area where conflicts are ongoing, based on information gathered through the United Nations' own mechanisms. However, numerous irregularities have been noted over the past several years. Some actors responsible for serious violations have been left off the list and, what is worse, others have been removed even though they haven't met the required conditions.

The IBCR wants to see this change and ensure that no violation goes unpunished. That's why, every year, we add our voice to a group of human rights organisations calling for the list to include all of the parties that are involved in armed conflict and that are responsible for grave violations of children's rights. As these repeated calls have been unheeded, the IBCR is committed to continue raising awareness of the issue until these practices change. l