On September 25, during the Grand Forum on the prevention of neglect organized by Répit Providence in Montreal, it became clear that, despite the sustained efforts of many social actors (daycare providers, schools, community organizations, CLSC, DYP, etc.), children in vulnerable situations do not always have access to adequate resources to meet their basic needs.
While currently the parent is considered primarily responsible for their child, what is our collective responsibility for meeting the needs of children?
It is with the hope of a profound transformation promoting collective responsibility that we demand a Charter of Children’s Rights in Quebec. More than a simple ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this Charter would have the power to force us to act collectively to meet the needs of children, in particular by putting in place conditions that promote the development of the power of act on the part of parents and those closest to their daily lives (daycares, schools, community organizations, etc.).
Meet needs
A Charter of Children’s Rights would require us to direct our work so as to provide the resources necessary to meet the daily needs of children, whether we work on legislation, management, intervention or education. A power of constraint would make it possible to direct resources more towards responding to the needs of children in their living environments and in their community (e.g.: funding of community environments at the mission).
Such a charter would require us to rethink the allocation of resources and to focus on intersectoral action to respond together to the multidimensionality of the needs of children and their families (e.g.: approach of the Action Intersectorielle pour le Child Development and Safety [AIDES]). This would force us to invest in meeting the basic needs of children, thus limiting expenses related to screening, assessment and reactive interventions on problems whose emergence could have been prevented.
Subject of law
In short, a Charter of Children’s Rights would require us to act coherently and sustainably to meet the needs of children. Accompanied by concrete means, it would enable collective, intersectoral action and real coordination to limit the dispersion of resources, while alleviating the pressure on already overloaded last resort services.
The Charter of the Rights of the Child will recognize that the child is
and that his interests must be the primary consideration in all decisions made about him. We propose the affirmation that Quebec is a caring society and that the well-being of all children is a collective responsibility.
On this International Children’s Rights Day, we have the opportunity to take a decisive step towards a Quebec that is more just and responsible towards children.
We formally ask the members of the National Assembly and the Government of Quebec to adopt the Charter of Children’s Rights proposed by the Laurent Commission.
Photo TVA NEWS / AGENCY QMI
Régine Laurent, former president of the Special Commission on the Rights of Children and Youth Protection (CSDEPJ)
Jean Simon Gosselin, former commissioner of the Special Commission on the Rights of Children and Youth Protection (CSDEPJ)
Catherine Bélanger Sabourin, professor, UQAM School of Social Work
Isabelle Perreault, general director, Répit Providence
Nathalie Plante, professor, UQAM School of Social Work
Claire Chamberland, professor emeritus, UdeM School of Social Work and vice-president of the non-profit Organization AIDES (OA)
Carl Lacharité, professor emeritus, Department of Psychology, UQTR and president OA
Danielle Lessard, research coordinator, secretary-treasurer of OA
