November 20 is National Child Day, a celebration of the global pledge made to children’s rights. The CCCYA, of which RCY is a member, continuously strives to hold Canada accountable for its legally binding commitment to implementing and protecting the …
Today, the British Columbia government announced proposed key amendments to legislation (Bill 38) that will act as an important step towards reducing barriers for Indigenous Nations and communities to assert jurisdiction over their own child welfare.
Since April 2016, when the province first declared it a Public Health Emergency, the devastating effects of the toxic drug crisis on British Columbia have grown more apparent by the month. Illicit drug overdoses are now overwhelmingly the leading cause …
We at RCY join in support of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples calling for the Pope’s words to be just a beginning, rather than a conclusion. We align with those leaders in calling for tangible action by the Catholic …
On June 20, 2022, the Federal Court of Canada approved the class action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of off-reserve First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Urban Indigenous children who were taken from their families and placed in non-Indigenous …
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to hold up and celebrate the culture, resistance and vision of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Urban Indigenous peoples. It is also a time to lean into the grief and pain of historical …
On June 9, 2022, the UNCRC released its Concluding Observations for Canada as its final step in this reporting cycle. Concluding Observations acknowledge progress achieved, identify areas of concern, and make recommendations to State parties for the full implementation of …
As the province’s Representative for Children and Youth, I have the privilege of meeting with and learning from many young people in and from care whose stories, insights, ideas and aspirations inform our priorities and actions at RCY. The strength, …
The amendments to the Mental Health Act will enable people who are involuntarily admitted to access support from an independent rights advisor. This is a substantial step toward fulfilling a key recommendation from Detained: Rights of children and youth under …
The Representative for Children and Youth and RCY’s Knowledge Keeper have released statements about the ongoing and persistent harm and trauma caused by residential schools across B.C. and Canada.