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Family Violence Initiative
International Activities
How is the Department involved in family violence issues internationally?
The Department of Justice Canada is a key player in Canada's efforts to put
the issue of violence against women and children on the international agenda. The
Department has been involved in developing international treaties, resolutions
and reports relating to family violence, violence against women and children,
and child sexual exploitation. It also participates in related international
conferences.
International Treaties, Resolutions and Reports
Justice Canada contributes to or has taken part in:
- Canada's position on resolutions related to family violence before the United
Nations (UN) General Assembly, the UN Commission for the Status of Women,
the UN Commission on the Rights of the Child and the UN Human Rights Committee.
For example, Canada put forward a resolution calling for the United Nations
to adopt the Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims
and Witnesses of Crime. The Economic and Security Council of the United
Nations adopted the resolution on July 22, 2005.
- various international reports, surveys and questionnaires, such as Canada's
Response to the UN Questionnaire on Violence against Children submitted
in September 2004 and the June 2005 North American Regional consultations,
leading to the 2006
UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children.
- the development of Canada's National Plan of Action for Children. The Action
Plan is called A
Canada Fit for Children. It was submitted to the UN in April 2004.
This Action Plan represents Canada 's follow-up to the May 2002 UN Special
Session on Children. The National Plan of Action is a multi-sector, long-term
child-centred framework for children and young people that identifies goals,
strategies and actions for the coming decades.
- Canada's
presentation of its Second Report on the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child at the 34th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The presentation took place in September 2003.
- Canada's presentation of its Fifth Report on the UN Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW) at the 28th Session of the CEDAW Committee. The Session took place
in January 2003.
- Canada's participation at the UN
General Assembly Special Session on Children in May 2002. This Special
Section resulted in the report entitled A World Fit for Children.
- Canada's negotiations on the UN Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children,
child prostitution and child pornography. Canada ratified the Protocol
on September 14, 2005.
- The resolution containing the "Model Strategies and Practical Measures
on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice." The resolution was subsequently adopted by the
UN Crime Commission. Canada also tabled a Resource Manual and Compendium on
the above resolution at the Eighth Session of the UN Crime Commission in 1999.
http://www.uncjin.org/Documents/8comm/Xe.pdf
- Canada's introduction of a resolution concerning "Crime
prevention and criminal justice measures to eliminate violence against women."
The General Assembly adopted the resolution (52/86) in 1997.
Participation in International Bodies
Justice Canada shares its expertise on family violence issues in events and
conferences sponsored by international bodies, such as the Council of Europe,
the European Union and the United Nations.
- From 2003 to 2004, Justice officials participated as observers in the Council
of Europe negotiations of the European Convention on Action against Trafficking
in Human Beings. The Convention was subsequently adopted by the Committee
of Ministers in May 2005. http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Trafficking/
- Departmental officials participated in the Second World Congress on the
Sexual Exploitation of Children in Japan in December 2001. http://www.unicef.org/events/yokohama/
- The Department participated in an interdepartmental committee to support
Canadian implementation of the Declaration and Agenda for Action. Part of
this activity was to support the International Summit of Sexually Exploited
Youth in March 1998. http://www.sen.parl.gc.ca/scarstairs/FYI/Spring1998_e.asp
- In 1996, as part of the Canadian delegation, officials from the Department
attended the World Congress Against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children in Stockholm. Participants at the World Congress adopted the Declaration
and Agenda for Action by consensus. http://www.csecworldcongress.org/en
Links to International Organizations
United Nations:
Other regional intergovernmental organizations
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