Family Violence Initiative

International Activities

How is the Department involved in family violence issues internationally?

The Department of Justice Canada is a key player in Canada's efforts to put the issue of violence against women and children on the international agenda. The Department has been involved in developing international treaties, resolutions and reports relating to family violence, violence against women and children, and child sexual exploitation. It also participates in related international conferences.

• International Treaties, Resolutions and Reports
• Links to International Organizations

International Treaties, Resolutions and Reports

Justice Canada contributes to or has taken part in:

• Canada's Third and Fourth Reports on the Convention on the Rights of the Child submitted to the UN on November 20, 2009.
• Canada's First Report on Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography submitted to the UN on February 3, 2009. (PDF version (403KB), PDF Help)
• Canada's position on resolutions related to family violence before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the UN Commission for the Status of Women, the UN Commission on the Rights of the Child and the UN Human Rights Council. For example, Canada put forward a resolution calling for the United Nations to adopt the Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime. The Economic and Security Council of the United Nations adopted the resolution on July 22, 2005.
• Various international reports, surveys and questionnaires, such as Canada's Response to the UN Questionnaire on Violence against Children (PDF only, 417 KB, PDF Help) submitted in September 2004 and the June 2005 North American Regional consultations, leading to the 2006 UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children.
• The development of Canada's National Plan of Action for Children. The Action Plan is called A Canada Fit for Children. It was submitted to the UN in April 2004. This Action Plan represents Canada 's follow-up to the May 2002 UN Special Session on Children. The National Plan of Action is a multi-sector, long-term child-centred framework for children and young people that identifies goals, strategies and actions for the coming decades.
• Canada's presentation of its Second Report on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the 34th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The presentation took place in September 2003.
• Canada's presentation of its Fifth Report on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at the 28th Session of the CEDAW Committee. The Session took place in January 2003. Canada's Sixth and Seventh Reports were submitted to the UN on May 3, 2007.
• Canada's participation at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children in May 2002. This Special Section resulted in the report entitled A World Fit for Children.
• Canada's negotiations on the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Canada ratified the Protocol on September 14, 2005.
• The resolution containing the "Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice". The resolution was subsequently adopted by the UN Crime Commission. Canada also tabled a Resource Manual and Compendium on the above resolution at the Eighth Session of the UN Crime Commission in 1999.
• Canada's introduction of a resolution concerning "Crime prevention and criminal justice measures to eliminate violence against women". The General Assembly adopted the resolution (52/86) in 1997.

Links to International Organizations

United Nations:

• UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)
• Committee on the Rights of the Child
• UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women)
• Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)
• Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Other regional intergovernmental organizations

• Organization of American States (OAS) – Interamerican Children's Institute
• Organization of American States (OAS) – Interamerican Commission of Women
• Council of Europe – Human Rights – Violence Against Women
• Council of Europe – Violence Against Children
• Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE) – Gender Equality