Child Rights Information and Resources
Knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and children’s rights generally, is lacking at all levels of our society – government, community, families, and children and youth themselves.
Our campaign aims to turn this around through a variety of community and youth engagement activities including workshops and events, networking, and the creation and dissemination of child rights resources across the province.
Child Rights Resources
Check out our Child Rights Resources and order yours today!
Our Services
View and book our workshop offerings.
Thank You
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
Child Rights Public Awareness
The Child Rights Public Awareness Campaign began in 2006 when SCY, the Representative for Children and Youth, and the Institute for Safe Schools of BC came together to envision a plan for raising awareness of child rights. A project advisory committee was established, with representatives of the federal and provincial governments, and community agencies that represent the diversity of British Columbian society. Since then, SCY has taken a leadership role in running the campaign.
The campaign uses the UNCRC as a unifying framework for government and community programs and services to children, youth and families, and aims to strengthen relationships through joint efforts to develop and implement strategies to increase public awareness of child rights.
Throughout the years, the campaign has engaged in numerous activities including roundtables on children’s rights, the creation of a child rights network, a multimedia campaign, community and youth engagement activities, and the creation and dissemination of child rights resources across the province, including multilingual resources.
Child and Youth Rights in BC: A Closer Look
In 2020 we worked together with other experts in BC to create this submission to the UN Committee regarding Canada’s implementation of the UNCRC.
Why is a child rights public awareness campaign needed?
Knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and children’s rights generally, is lacking at all levels of our society – government, community, families, and children and youth themselves. In the 2005 report, Who’s in Charge Here? Effective Implementation of Canada’s International Obligations with Respect to the Rights of Children, Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights found that there is a pervasive lack of awareness of the Convention within Canadian society:
“…the Committee has heard numerous witnesses express concern about the lack of awareness, both in government and among the public, of the Convention and the rights enshrined in it. Throughout its hearings, the Committee has become aware that there is very little knowledge of the Convention outside academic and advocacy circles. In government, even among those dedicated to protecting children’s rights, knowledge of the 15 year old convention is spotty at best.”
Additional Resources
Community Engagement and Special Projects
Learn about our education, advocacy, and community engagement in projects that are not classifiable under a particular program. Including past programs.
Resources Library
Browse our resource library for articles, toolkits, homework assignments, youth resources and other documents.
Our Services
Are you planning a conference? a community event? a panel? We want to be a part of it! In our long history of providing a voice for children and youth we have plenty of expertise to share.
If you are looking for a presentation topic that you don’t see here, contact us as we are happy to customize and develop a presentation for you. We offer our services on a sliding scale.
Workshops
Our team is available to deliver workshops related to a variety of issues concerning children and children’s rights. Workshops can be customized to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders such as ECE teachers, Neighbourhood House staff, Youth Workers, Community Centre staff, and children and youth themselves. All workshops include a component focused on raising awareness of children’s rights and issues affecting young people, and seeking to motivate participants to take action to uphold children’s rights.
Ask a Lawyer Series
SCY’s Ask a Lawyer workshops were developed to provide youth with information about their legal rights in a fun and informative environment, and provide a safe space to ask questions. Workshops have been developed on many common topics, with our current primary delivery topics and booking details viewable in the image on this page. We always welcome inquiries to see if we can customize to meet your group’s specific needs.
Child and Youth Engagement
Having a say and being heard makes children and youth feel valuable, it increases their self-esteem and their motivation to succeed. Children and youth who participate in their family life grow to be confident, responsible, and good decision-makers. Young people who participate in their classrooms and schools are highly engaged in school, have good peer and teacher relationships, and high levels of achievement. Children and youth who participate in their communities have a sense of worth, belonging, and being respected. Without these positive developmental characteristics, children are more vulnerable to negative influences such as substance use and gang membership.
We can help you design processes and increase your ability to meaningfully engage different types of young people in a variety of contexts. Past SCY work has included surveys, mapping activities, photo-voice, and PSAs.
Keynote Presentations
The focus of our work is creating a rights respecting society for children and youth so our keynote topics can relate to any of the articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In particular, we are able to contribute by speaking about issues around discrimination, right to life, survival and development, the best interests of children and youth, and respect for the views of children and youth.
📞 Contact Us
Phone: 778-657-5544 or toll free at 1-877-462-0037
Fax: 604-357-1758
Email: info@scyofbc.org
Address: 102 – 1678 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1X6
Participant Testimonial
“[The SCY Facilitator] was very welcoming, with a warm smile. She was knowledgeable, informative and allowed us all to take turns during discussion. She respected everyone’s question and answers.”
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The Society for Children and Youth of BC
Office open by appointment only.
102 - 1678 W. Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1X6
P: (778) 657-5544
Toll-free: 1-877-462-0037
F: (604) 357-1758
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