UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

May 17, 2016

The Right Honourable Justin Trudea P M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Building 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

DearRe: PrimeUN ConventionMinister: on the Rights of the Child

I o o o write on behalf of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) t ask your government t create a detailed action plan t effectively implement the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN Committee) offer a road mape that could a proveal transformational f in improving the lives of Canadian, children.

Th CBA is nation association o over 36,000 lawyers, law students notaries and law teachers. Among our primary objectives are improvement in the law and the administration of justice, and promoting the rule of law. n h C. In October 2012 o the Canadian government received the ConcludingC Observations of. the UN Committee o Canada’s Third and Fourt Reports on the UNCR Government representatives expressed da strong commitment. t fulfill Canada’s oobligations under the UNCR in the reviewC process This follows from Canada’s role o as a key proponent and one of the first of many states to sign the UNCRC (ratifieis in 1991)s Canada's commitment t fulfill its obligations under the UNCR includes recognition of a special obligation t the Indigenous peoples of Canada and Indigenous children in particular. Th recognition wa affirme d with Canada’ s recent adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. , ho The UN .Committee’s Concluding Observations followed a careful examination of government o reports and evidence from other experts including Canadian organizations w work with children across the country The Concluding. Observations, contained serious criticisms of Canada’s failure t more fully implement the Convention and provided C detailed and generalo recommendations for areas of improvement For example the UN Committee expressed concerns about the lack of national implementing legislation for the UN CR and pointed t the need for a National Children's

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o a a f . s 1 , e ee a b Commissioner. It als expressed need for better dat collection and monitoring o child wellbeing Perhap most urgentlys ths UN Committs urged Canad to cur the over-2representation ofal aboriginal and African- Canadian achildren e in custodial e and out of home caree, settings. While some s recommendation s addres matteris within s provincial and territorial jurisdiction, the feder government, also has rol alin areas wher ,it can effect chang working in partnership with provi nce and territoriee in others., Th all approach i recognized e inle your emandate letter to I the Minister ou of Families eChildren and Soci a Developmente which says that “all Canadian children deserve a real and fair chanc a to succeed le and e Canadians should b ab to liv with dignity… know y will undertak your work in collaborativ way with an appreciation that provinces and municipalities play aleadership ro in thes eeareas. ” e f ee. , r r t r Canad has now had over thr yearsa.to consider a th recommendations o the UN Committ e In March 2014 the CBA wrotes to the Prime Ministe of thes days sasking fo swif actionim to bette implement e a children’sf rights in Canad As. Canad prepares e to submit its fifth report to th UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the CBAs suggest thi i the time to recla Canada’s leadership in th are o promoting children’s rights Canadians hav welcomed your government’s early and stronge commitment e a to advancinge children’ rights. e al e W would welcom chanc to meet with you or your representatives to discuss how w can help the feder government to achiev this important goal.

(originalYours truly lette, r signed by Janet M. Fuhrer)

Janet M Fuhrer e e , ., , , cc. The Honourable Stéphanee Dion, P.C, M.P. ([email protected]) Thee Honourablee Jodye Wilson-Raybould ., P.C. M.P. ([email protected]) The Honourable Mélani Joly P.C., M.P.., ([email protected] ) The Honourable Jan Philpott, P.C M.P. (, [email protected], . ) Th Honourabl Jean-Yves Duclos P.C M.P. ([email protected]) Th Honourabl Doctor Carolyn Bennett P.C. M.P ([email protected])

1 t d 2 CRC/C/CAN/CO3-4, para. 23, 6 December 2012. The full tex of these Concluding Observations can be accesse online at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC%2fC%2fC AN%2fCO%2f3-4&Lang=en