Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA)

One of John Humphrey Centre’s major projects this year was an impact assessment of children’s rights in the province of Alberta. In partnership with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) we spent the summer hearing from vulnerable children and young people about the state of children's rights in Alberta. We surveyed 127 diverse young people through our Rights In Play program, held 10 focus groups, and had an interview to capture how is society supporting children and youth rights. Siman Panaych, one of the educators talked about her experience holding focus groups:

“Many of the youth are not used to having someone ask them their opinion; rather, they are used to being talked down to. For this reason, it was unnerving for some youth to be given the liberty to speak their mind and be told their opinion was valued”. Siman recounts, creating a safe space for youth to talk was also challenging. Children and youth are not only not used to speak, they are also afraid.

We look for help and support of agencies that provide services to vulnerable children to reach to First Nations youth, young offenders, youth living with disabilities,  children in care, immigrant children and youth, and children and youth living in poverty.

Primarily, the study unveils that First Nations youth and young offenders are the two groups whose fundamental rights are less protected. They are vulnerable and discriminated against. Also, it is important to point that the main common concern among all consulted youth is the lack of spaces free from drugs.

Different groups pointed at issues like the lack of safe, clean, and youth shelters, and the inaccessibility of social services in certain areas of the city. Access to social services is easier for children in the system (youth in care and young offenders) than for the ones at risk that have not been detained or in care. Participants identified the need for more information about social services in schools and other places they frequent.Youth in poverty do not know what services exist nor how to access them. The concentration of social services in few places of the city restricts accessibility.

Race, gender, appearance, and access to economic resources are identified as the elements by which young people are discriminated. Participants argued that the justice system does not accept that people can change. After a young person has a record, it is impossible not to be labelled guilty or an “offender” forever.This research clearly demonstrates that in spite of common concerns, not all vulnerable youth have the same perceptions of their rights.

We would like to thank our partners at the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate for their support and willingness to address the systemic and pressing issues that affect young people all over the province. Consider supporting the work we do by becoming a member of the JHC!  

Read the OCYA report here 

Youth Voices: Children's Rights Assessment Report by John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights