e-3756 (Foreign affairs)

The promotion and protection of human rights is integral to Canada’s feminist foreign policy. It is because of the unique vulnerability of children that their rights are of priority concern.

Canada played a key role in the negotiations that led to the adoption and ratification of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Canada ratified the Convention of the Rights of the Child in 1991, and is also a party to two of the three optional protocols: the optional protocol on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

Working closely with our international partners, Canada supports the development of national action plans and the implementation of a child protection systems approach in countries to: implement laws, policies and programs that protect children; change attitudes and social norms that form the roots of gender-based violence, inter-familial violence, and discrimination; help children and adolescents to cope with risks and to seek appropriate support when violence does occur; and, promote and provide support services for children, such as psychological services.

Children account for the vast majority of those exploited for labour and sexual purposes. Canada’s targeted activities include commitments to child protection under the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. Canada supports programming to prevent the trafficking of children, capacity-building for government and non-governmental actors, education and training programs.

Canada is a leading advocate for increased actions to counter trafficking internationally. As part of this strategy, Global Affairs Canada is implementing an enhanced international engagement approach to better leverage multilateral and bilateral partnerships. Canada will seek to join the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, and the UN Blue Heart Campaign, and is an active participant in Alliance 8.7, a network of government institutions, international and regional organizations, private sector entities and civil society organizations working to eradicate forced labour, human trafficking and child labour.

The Government of Canada issues travel advice and recommendations about safety and security conditions abroad to enable travellers to make their own informed decisions regarding destinations. A Travel Advisory is issued by the Government of Canada when it assesses that the security or health situation in a country or region poses a significant threat to the personal safety and security of Canadians travelling or living there. This could be caused by the threat of terrorism, civil unrest, war, rebellion, a natural disaster, political instability or a health emergency.

The decision to issue, remove, upgrade or downgrade an advisory is made in consultation with the embassy, high commission or consulate of Canada responsible for the destination, as well as with stakeholders from various divisions at Global Affairs Canada. The level is based on an overall assessment of the current security situation.

Global Affairs Canada also provides useful information for different kinds of travellers on travel.gc.ca, including for international volunteers. This information is provided to help Canadians minimize their safety risk abroad. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller, and Canadians are responsible for their personal safety abroad.