Education Minister recognizes National Child Day

On National Child Day, November 20, Education Minister Judy Foote encourages everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador to take a moment to reflect on the rights of the child. National Child Day promotes the awareness of children's rights, including anti-discrimination, anti-poverty, non-violence and freedom from fear, in both industrialized and developing nations. 

"National Child Day is extremely important because it reminds all of us of our responsibility to ensure the rights of the child are protected," said Minister Foote. "As adults, our role in guaranteeing children's rights is particularly critical since children themselves are often not able to assure their own welfare." 

The Government of Canada designated November 20 as National Child Day to commemorate the adoption of two landmark documents: the United Nations Declarations of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. This latter document outlines the special inherent rights and freedoms of children younger than 18 years of age, as well as the responsibilities of governments, families and care-givers. 

In support of the convention's mandate that both adults and children learn about the rights of the child, the Department of Education has distributed a series of booklets entitled Rights and Responsibilities as a cross-curricular resource for teachers at all grade levels. These booklets promote the rights and responsibilities of children and adults and include suggestions for in-class discussion and activities. The rights of the child are also included as part of the social studies curriculum in grades 5, 6 and 8. In addition, in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Association, the Department of Education distributes a human rights resource entitled Freedoms and Responsibilities to every high school student in the province.

"It is our responsibility as care-givers of children to help them learn their rights and, as the Convention on the Rights of the Child mandates, to encourage them to become active participants in protecting their own rights," said Minister Foote. "I encourage everyone to spend some time on National Child Day learning about the rights of the child and sharing that information with others. This is an essential part of ensuring that the rights of each and every child are respected."

Media contact: Gay Decker, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2001 11 19                            12:55 p.m.