Invitation to join the country wide initiative to inform children and young people of their rights with respect to the military

As children and young people progress towards making career decisions, they often turn to organizations such as yours to facilitate their access to appropriate information so that they make fully informed choices in line with their talents and interests.

For thousands of children and young people every year, the military is considered as an option for further education or employment. Canada ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) in July 2000 and is obliged to ensure that children and young people under the age of 18 years, especially those considering military service as well as their parents or guardians, are fully informed of their duties in military service and the nature of the commitments they are making if joining the Canadian Forces.

As a measure to raise awareness of and progressively implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols in Canada, UNICEF Canada, the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children and YOUCAN collaborated with Canadian children and young people, relevant government departments and others to produce a brochure informing children and youth of some important rights and considerations related to the military. The brochure is available (in youth-friendly language) in English, French and Oji-Cree syllabics, with the support of the Multiculturalism and Human Rights Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage.

The brochure, Get on the Rights Side, distils essential information on children’s human rights, responds to the most common queries raised by children and youth and suggests a guidance “check-list” to young people considering military service – supplementing what would be provided through the Canadian Forces recruitment process.

As key stakeholders working for or with children and young people, this is to invite you to consider providing the brochure to them in any appropriate ways you may determine.

A copy of "Get on the Rights Side" in each language is available by contacting  Saadya Hamdani, Advocacy Specialist. Tel: 1 416 482 4444 (8850); email: shamdani@unicef.ca

More information can be obtained from

www.unicef.ca/youthfriendlyopac (English)

www.unicef.ca/pfadestineauxjeunes (French).