CHILD CARE IS A RIGHT
In partnership with the CCCABC (Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC), the CCAAC is proud to announce our new project (2010) “Child Care is a Right”. The child care movement began as a central issue of the women’s rights movement so it’s natural that we would return to our roots and begin to explore child care from a women’s, children and family rights position.
The core of our work will be to explore Canada's international treaty obligations to women, children and families as they pertain to child care. We are focusing on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and related General Comment #7, the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Update from Geneva:
Our presentation to the Pre-Sessional Working Group of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (February 6, 2012)
- Commentary from Susan Harney following the presentation
- Brief Update of A Tale of Two Canadas: Implementing Rights in Early Childhood
- Speaking Notes from our presentation
- Declaration for a Child Care System in Canada with endorsements from provincial and federal organizations
Project publications:
Factsheets
June 2011
As children, child care is our right
As families, child care is our right
As women, child care is our right
As workers, child care is our right
Brief
A Tale of Two Canadas: Implementing Rights in Early Childhood
Child Care is a Right Project releases A Tale of Two Canadas (March 3, 2011)
Download the full brief (23 pages)
Download the overview (english - 2 pages)
Download the appendices (18 pages)
Postcard
April 2011
Child Care is a Right postcards
Introduction to the 'Child Care is a Right' project and information about the UN process
May 2010
Our right to advocate:
Why are we so passionate about advocating for our rights – and does the United Nations really care?
Our child care advocacy movement began as a central issue of the women’s rights movements. For over 30 years, the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC has advocated for quality, affordable, accessible child care to enhance the lives of women and children. We believe that Canada signed on to the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in good faith, and with that same good faith, we work now to hold Canada accountable for its lack of action.
Does the UN really care what CCCABC has to say?
The answer is a resounding yes! While the process may be a bit difficult to navigate, the UN has established a number of ways for organizations like ours to inform the review committee’s work and to suggest questions that should be put to Canada’s government representatives. “The Committee on the Right of the Child seeks specific, reliable and objective information from NGO’s (non governmental organizations [like CCCABC]) in order to obtain a serious and independent assessment of the progress and difficulties encountered in the implementation of the CRC.”
So, it is our responsibility as concerned and engaged citizens of Canada to be part of the review process and demand the rights of children and women are upheld in our country.
A Guide for Non-Governmental Organizations Reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
prepared for the CCCABC and CCAAC Boards of Directors as information regarding the process for reporting to the UN on the CRC
NGO reporting process guide available from: http://www.crin.org/ngogroupforcrc/
Related Readings:
Conventions
What Commitments has Canada made to Children, Women and Families?
By ratifying (or approving) the following agreements, Canada has committed to protecting and ensuring rights for the following groups (among others). Canada has also agreed to be accountable for these commitments before the international community
On Children and Families
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- General Comment No. 7 (2005): Implementing child rights in early childhood
Provides further details on the application of the CRC to young children and their families
On Women
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
- What does CEDAW mean for child care in Canada?
A briefing note on CEDAW, and its application particularly to child care in recent years
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, February 2009
Canada Reports to the UN – Public Reporting to the International Community
Has Canada always reported the whole truth?
On Children and Families
- Convention on the Rights of the Child – Third and Fourth Reports of Canada
covering the period January 1998 – December 2007
On Women
- CEDAW report (Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) 6 and 7th report
covering the period April 1999-March 2006
Civil Society reports to the UN
What have grassroots organizations said?
On Children and Families
On Women
- No Action, No Progress: FAFIA's Report on Canada's Progress in Implementing Priority Recommendations made by the CEDAW Committee in 2008
- Nothing to Report
CEDAW report Submission of the B.C. CEDAW Group To the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [in response to Canada’s Follow-up Report on Progress in Implementing Priority Recommendations made by the Committee in its 2008 Concluding Observations on Canada - CEDAW Report Card 2009
Westcoast Leaf
The UN makes its evaluation.
What does the UN say about Canada’s progress (or lack of it)?
On Children and Families
- Committee on the Rights of the Child - Consideration of Reports Submitted by State Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention
- Concluding observations: Canada
October 2003
On Women
- CEDAW considers report of Canada
October 2008
Links to other Rights organizations
On Children and Families
- Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
Promoting children’s rights in Canada
On Women
- FAFIA
- WomenWatch
Central gateway to information and resources on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations system