Canadian Children's Charter Essay

Youth from across Canada have gathered in Ottawa to finalize a Canadian Children’s Charter – a call to action to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of children.

Today’s event comes 6-months after the group last met in Ottawa, during the International Children’s Day of the Child, to begin drafting the Charter. It also follows extensive consultations with kids across the country.

#? (how many) youth are participating in today’s event, organized by Children First Canada, a national non-profit organization working to make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up.

The final charter is expected to focus on issues that children themselves have deemed as important, including:

• Being able to have a voice and opportunity to lead in schools, families, governments and communities;

• Better access to mental health services and treatment;

• Having the right to participate in the decisions affecting them;

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Journalists are also invited to attend a private reception on Wednesday evening 5-7 p.m. at The Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel by Drive.

Sara Austin, founder and lead director of Children First Canada has personally been advocating for children’s rights for more than 20 years. She founded the charity in 2016 with the goal of helping Canadian children create their own charter. “We have come a long way in the last couple of years in being able to finalize the charter, but the work has just begun,” explains Austin.

Also on hand today to contribute to the final charter will be Chris Zhou, a member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council. “Canada absolutely needs a charter. We like to think of ourselves as leaders when it comes to children’s rights, but sadly we lag in a lot of areas. Children’s Charters exist in many countries around the world and Canadian children deserve to have their voices heard and protected as