Child Rights Education Week (NB)
The NB Child and Youth Advocate’s office has been organizing an annual Child Rights Education Week (CREW) which engages government, community organizations, children and families in the celebration of children’s rights.
Youth in Canada have rights protected under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This year CREW is focusing on Article 28 and Article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which discuss governments’ responsibility to promote and protect children's rights and the right to education for all. Your help is needed in celebrating Child Rights Education Week.
What is CREW?
Canadian Child and Youth Advocates, in partnership with leading Canadian non-governmental organizations, are proud to present Child Rights Education Week in Canada. Building upon the success of the previous two years, the national campaign will engage Canadians across the country in the promotion and protection of children’s rights.
Child Rights Education Week (CREW) in Canada is celebrated annually during the third week of November (week of November 17th) to promote, educate the public about, and engage Canadians in activities and conversations that highlight children’s rights. CREW celebrations have had the effect of raising broad-based awareness across Canadian communities about the collective duty we have to ensure that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is reflected in our laws, policies, and practices in government, community and in the home.
This year CREW is focusing on Article 28 and Article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which discuss the right to Education for all. Your help is needed in celebrating Child Rights Education Week.
What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)?
This Year Marks 30 Years of the CRC
Thirty years ago, in 1989, the United Nations adopted a treaty called the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC says that all children have rights and that everyone in the world is responsible for making sure that these rights are protected. Each one of the rights is as important as the others, and they are all connected to each other. Four of these rights are also called “general principles” because they help us understand all of the other rights under the Convention. Those rights are (1) non-discrimination, (2) best interests of the child, (3) maximum survival and development, and (4) participation.
Right to Education
Everyone has the right to Education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Join the movement
Starting November 17 until the 23 you can participate in the conversation about Child Rights. Young people and children are engaging in a national social media campaign using #MyRightsCRC and #RightToBeHeard. They're posting pictures, videos, and quotes answering these questions: What does your ideal Canada look like? Do you feel your rights are being respected? What would make the world a better place?
Register Your Event
This year you can help make Child Rights Education Week a success!
As part of our week-long celebration, we encourage you to create and plan your own unique events and activities that promote and highlight the way that we can work together with, and on behalf of, children. Most importantly, let us know how you will promote, advocate and defend the rights and interests of New Brunswick children and youth. As we develop a Child Rights Education Week website, we will gladly promote and support your activity or event.
For example, you can:
- Host an event (presentation, open-house, exhibit, activity day, concert, day theme for school etc.)
- Plan an excursion (swimming pool, skating rink, art gallery, library etc.)
- Write a letter (opinion, editorial, peer-to-peer, etc.)
- Develop a campaign or a contest (fundraiser, online awareness, parade/march, flashmob etc.)
How you will promote, advocate and defend the rights and interests of New Brunswick children? Do you already have activities planned for the week, are they linked to children rights? Let us know.
Register your Child Rights Education Week event and we will gladly promote it on our website.
New resources for children, parents, teachers and educators
Again, this year, we invite you to join our CREW Facebook page which will be used to promote CREW activities and share educational resources about children's rights. The right to education is a right that you find in many laws across Canada and for this year’s Children’s education week, the committee would love to hear children and youth and professionnals from across Canada! Get involved in the video project!
Next Steps after the Social Media Campaign
Childrens' rights should be respected. As Canadian children's rights will be examined by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, it is important to start the conversation.
Do you know that the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children will be submitting an alternative report to the United Nations discussing how Canada is doing in regard to Child Rights in Canada. You can get involved. We encourage you to learn more about the alternative and periodic reports.
Learn more about both the official and the alternative reports
Take advantage of play-based activities available online
As in previous years, we have developed a national website to provide you with educational resources on Child Rights. These activities were designed by partner organizations for your class. Take advantage of these play-based activities, designed for teachers and community members, which include opportunities for active play discussion, arts-based programming, and personal reflection.
Resources for children, parents, teachers, and educators
Again, this year, we have developed a national website to provide you with educational resources on children's rights. These activities were designed by partner organizations. Take advantage of these play-based activities designed for teachers and community members, which include opportunities for active play, discussion, arts-based programming and personal reflection.
