Today the Board of Directors of Defence for Children International-Canada (DCI-Canada) passed the following resolution in support of Aboriginal children’s rights in regard to child protection, and in support of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada’s complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
RESOLVED:
1. We express our profound concern about the gap between Canada’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children with respect to health and development indicators, and regarding the gap between funding for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal child protection services in Canada.
2. We reiterate that Canada is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which provides, among other things: that governments recognize “the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health” (Article 24); that governments must protect children “from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation” (Article 19); that children in the child protection system are “entitled to special protection and assistance provided by the State,” (Article 20), and that governments must ensure that children receive the rights and protections set out in the Convention”without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race…” (Article 2).
3. We express our solidarity with the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada in its complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission regarding Canada’s differential treatment of Aboriginal children.
4. We call upon the the Government of Canada, provincial governments, and First Nations governments to take all necessary actions to ensure that the commitments made in the Convention on the Rights of the Child are realized by Canada’s Aboriginal children.
DATED this 30th day of August, 2009. Peta satelit dunia .
