Canada is in violation with a United Nations binding agreement. This is a fact that every Canadian should be aware of. The Rights of a Child depend on it. Before the tragedy took place with Cassie and Molly, I was unaware of this. I likely would have remained that way if my daughter’s life being was represented in court. I feel ashamed and naive that I didn’t concern myself with such issues until now. Regardless, it is time we held our Country to it’s word – Our word.
In 1991, the Canadian government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which they signed onto in 1990. The UNCRC, like the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child which preceded it, is very clear in stating that the rights and legal protection of children are paramount in both born and pre-born children. The preamble from the UNCRC states:
Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, “the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth”
The 1989 Convention on the Rights of a Child that Canada signed onto is a binding agreement that our country is in direct violation of.
Canada needs to adhere to the commitments made when signing the UNCRC. The absence of a law that makes an attack on unborn child a punishable offence is not only way out of line with all other Western nations – but is also an appalling infringement on the rights of children as recognized by the United Nations.
There is no law in Canada that makes it illegal for a person to kill an unborn baby. Not even a third party violent offender who very obviously intends to harm the mother and her baby. I think that this is in direct conflict with this agreement that Canada signed onto over 25 years ago.
There are reasons why the United Nations would pen such an agreement – for the protection of kids like Molly. What is Canada’s reason for not living up to it?
This is a link to that agreement:
http://www.canadiancrc.com/PDFs/UN_Convention_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child_en.pdf
International Standards:
http://www.weneedalaw.ca/resources/international-law
