On National Child Day, Canada celebrates the rights of all children and youth under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). At my Office, we too celebrate this groundbreaking treaty that was ratified by Canada in 1991.
But as we celebrate, we need to consider this: How many children and youth aren’t aware of this treaty? How many children and youth in B.C. and Canada who are in vulnerable situations, including children in care, youth in the justice system, children and youth with special needs, and Indigenous children living in remote areas, know that they have rights that are enshrined in law and that governments are legally obligated to uphold? The fact is that too many children, who need to know still don’t know that they have rights. And without that knowledge, they are even more vulnerable.
