POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 81 There are well over 8 million kids in Canada, and they all have something in common – their rights! November 20 marks National Child Day in Canada. It’s a time to celebrate the rights of children and youth and renew our commitment to upholding them. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child protects the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights of children. Here are 12 areas of child rights that everyone should know. 1. Non-discrimination Every child deserves equal treatment – regardless of their gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, physical appearance, ability, socio-economic status, nationality, creed, ideology, or other personal identities. Children with disabilities have the right to receive the accommodations they need to thrive. Refugees should also receive help and maintain the same rights as children born in the country they now live in. Children from minority, disenfranchised, and Indigenous communities have the right to practise their religion, language, culture, and customs. 2. Family Every child has the right to live with their family. The family can be of any structure, but the family should instil a sense of belonging, and provide a loving and nurturing environment. Children and youth deserve to feel an attachment to their caregivers, whomever their caregivers might be. Children should not be separated from their parents unless one or both parents are abusive or neglectful, or their home environment is unsafe. Children whose parents do not live together should remain in contact with both parents unless contact harms the child. If a child lives in a different country from their parents, the child and parents must be allowed to travel so they can be together. continued 12 Child Rights Everyone Should Know Designed by Freepik
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