Twenty years ago every country except two enthusiastically adopted a Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Canada a recent Senate study found that children's rights have not become part of our culture or public life. Why not? Is change possible and desirable? In many parts of the world children's rights are violated with impunity. This session will explore conceptual tensions in the field of children's rights that create barriers for implementation and practical experiences that improve the situation of children. Presenters will be Kathy Vandergrift, Chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children and instructor in Public Ethics, and Jamie McIntosh, Executive Director of International Justice Mission Canada, an international organization that defends the rights of children caught in child labour, sexual exploitation, and oppressive regimes.
