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Summary: A compilation of extracts featuring child-rights issues from the reports submitted to the first Universal Periodic Review. There are extracts from the 'National Report', the 'Compilation of UN Information' and the 'Summary of Stakeholder's Information'. Also included is the final report and the list of accepted and rejected recommendations.
Canada - 4th Session - 2009
3rd February 2009, 10am - 1pm
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Summary of Stakeholder Compilation
Accepted and rejected recommendations
9. The many human rights and freedoms enjoyed by Canadians are also protected by a large body of federal, provincial and territorial legislation and accompanying regulations. All governments in Canada have adopted human rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on various grounds in regard to employment matters, the provision of goods, services and facilities customarily available to the public, and accommodation. Labour laws protecting the rights of workers to bargain collectively, child protection laws, family property regimes and privacy legislation are also examples of these legislative measures. The common law (“judge made law”) of Canada continues to be a vibrant source of civil rights, including, for example, the right to habeas corpus.
16. Governments in Canada have also created various public advocates for human rights, such as ombudspersons, which generally investigate complaints about government services and promote access to these services, and children’s advocates, which promote the interests of children who have concerns about provincial government services.
24. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for most areas of education, while the Government of Canada is responsible for the instruction of children living on Indian reserves or Crown lands. Education is generally governed by specific legislation and regulations in each province and territory, which establish the respective rights and responsibilities.
25. Tuition-free access to public education is guaranteed for all at the elementary and secondary levels. At the post-secondary education, many financial support programs exist at the federal and provincial/territorial level, such as the Registered Education Savings Plan, student loans and bursary programs.
31. The federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada recognize the importance of economic security and well-being for all Canadians, and have taken a number of joint and independent initiatives, including:
(d) Children;
(i) The National Child Benefit (NCB) is an initiative of federal, provincial and territorial governments, with a First Nations component. The NCB includes both income and other forms of support (e.g. child/day care, early childhood services and children-at-risk services, supplementary health benefits, and youth initiatives).
(ii) The federal contribution to the NCB initiative is the NCB Supplement, a monthly benefit paid to low-income families with children. The NCB supplement is part of the larger federal Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), which provides monthly benefits to low- and middle-income families to help with the costs of raising children.
(iii) All families with children under the age of six receive the Universal Child Care Benefit, which they can use for childcare costs.
(iv) Manitoba has established Healthy Child Manitoba and the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet as a formal cross-department strategy to coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs for children and their families as a government priority.
(v) Newfoundland and Labrador has implemented new universal non-taxable benefits for new families. The Progressive Family Growth Benefit goes to residents of the Province who give birth to or adopt a baby on or after January 1, 2008 and the Parental Support Benefit is available to residents of the province for 12 months after the child's birth or adoptive placement.
(vi) The Governments of Yukon and Saskatchewan have established child care subsidy programs that assist families in attaining a higher standard of living. 49.
49. Canada’ refugee protection system under IRPA takes into account Canada’s obligations under the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol and under other relevant human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1985 that the Charter protects refugee claimants present in Canada. Since then, there have been several important decisions affecting both the procedures and the substance of Canadian refugee protection law. Canada’s international human rights obligations have informed the scope of Charter protection of refugee claimants and others seeking Canada’s protection.
52. Canada has seen a decline in the numbers of persons living with low income over the past decade. The overall rate of low income in Canada declined from 15.7 per cent of the population in 1996 to 10.5 per cent in 2006. This equates to approximately 3.4 million members of Canadian society, of which 760,000 were children, 2.4 million were working-age adults and 219,000 were seniors. Various programs and benefits instituted by governments to provide financial assistance to Canadians to enhance their economic well-being, some of which are described in the previous section of this report, have contributed to this trend.
53. However, governments in Canada recognize that efforts to reduce poverty must continue and that some groups are at particular risk. Poverty reduction strategies and programs exist at all levels of government and specifically target the most vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, lone parents, recent immigrants, Aboriginal persons, the elderly, and children.
56. Governments in Canada are working collaboratively, and with non-governmental organizations, on measures to address the housing needs of all Canadians, including families with children, and ensure that their residents have access to adequate housing through various initiatives, for example:
b) The investment of $1 billion by the Government of Canada under the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI), is being matched by provincial and territorial governments and third parties. Provinces and territories have the flexibility to design and deliver programs that are best suited to their affordable housing needs, including for example, the housing needs of seniors, individuals, and families with children.
(c) The Government of Canada provides some $1.7 billion per year to support approximately 626,000 lower-income households in existing social housing, including for example, many single and two-parent families with children.
(d) In December 2006, the Government of Canada announced $526 million over two years for housing and homelessness programs. This includes an investment of $270 million over two years for the new Homelessness Partnering Strategy aimed at combating homelessness in communities across Canada. The announcement also includes an investment of $256 million for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) renovation assistance programs for low- income households. These renovation programs will help improve the living conditions for some 8,000 low-income people including persons with disabilities, women and children who are victims of family violence, Aboriginal people and their families, and seniors.
60. Governments are also taking measures to address homelessness in Canada. Although the very nature of homelessness makes it difficult to measure its extent, it is estimated that there might be 150,000 homeless people in Canada; however, some estimations put the rate as high as double that number. Certain groups are becoming more vulnerable to homelessness, such as the elderly, women, including young girls, and children. Aboriginal people are overrepresented in the homeless population, especially in larger urban areas.
66. The Government of Canada’s First Nations Child and Family Services Program is an example of social programs for First Nations children and families living on reserve. Under this program, the federal government funds First Nations and other recipients to deliver culturally- appropriate child welfare services to First Nations families and children on reserve. In all cases, recipients receive their mandate from the reference province to deliver child and family services on-reserve.
67. In 2006-2007, there were approximately 8,282 First Nations children in care. This number is disproportionately high in comparison to the general population and is indicative of the broader social concerns that exist on many reserves, those of poverty, poor housing conditions, substance abuse and exposure to family violence.
68. In response to these underlying concerns as well as to recommendations by the Auditor General of Canada to better address gaps in policy, funding, accountability and reporting, governments in Canada, in partnership with First Nations, undertake measures to incrementally shift agency programming to a prevention focused approach. This shift began in 2007 is working towards completion by 2013.
69. Examples of government measures include British Columbia’s work with Aboriginal communities, leadership and individuals to develop capacity within the Aboriginal communities to take on child and family services, with the objective of achieving in fewer Aboriginal children in care, more culturally appropriate services delivered to Aboriginal people, and increased involvement by Aboriginal community members in decisions pertaining to their children. Through Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreements in British Columbia, school boards and Aboriginal communities jointly identify the direction needed to improve the success of Aboriginal students, take steps to reach their shared goals and reflect local Aboriginal culture. The Province has provided grants to help Friendship Centre Societies with enhanced early childhood development programming and family literacy initiatives.
70. Other government measures include the enactment by the Government of Yukon of the Child and Family Services Act, which recognizes the importance of culture and community in the lives of children and families; and the importance of involving First Nations in planning and decision-making where First Nations children are involved in child protection matters. The Government of New Brunswick continues to advance its work with First Nation communities and organizations on issues such as the provision of culturally sensitive mental health and addictions services. Manitoba's The Child and Family Services Authorities Act devolved responsibility for development and delivery of programs for Aboriginal families to a Métis and two regional First Nation authorities. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador funds an Aboriginal grants program for women and children to support their efforts to promote violence prevention.
72. Reconciliation is a fundamental aspect of the Government of Canada’s approach to addressing the harmful legacy of Indian residential schools. For over a century, until the last school was shut down in the 1990s, this system educated more than 150,000 Aboriginal children in schools outside their communities.
73. On 11 June 2008, the Prime Minister formally apologized to former students of Indian residential schools on behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, asking forgiveness for the students' suffering and for the damaging impact the schools had on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language.
74. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement is the basis upon which compensation is paid to individuals who attended these schools. In total, 64,000 former students have received $1.3 billion dollars. Canada also established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Commission is intended to give a voice to those who wish to recount their personal experiences with the Indian residential school system and to produce an accurate and public record of the past.
86. The Government of Canada also provides financial and professional assistance to organizations to carry out projects at the local, regional and national levels. These initiatives include training for shelter staff working with victims of violence, empowerment sessions, entrepreneurship training, childcare and violence prevention programs. To address the high rates of violence against Aboriginal women, the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Native Women’s Association of Canada, supports the Sisters in Spirit Initiative, which is aimed at raising awareness about racialized and sexualized violence against Aboriginal women. This violence often leads to the disappearance or death of Aboriginal women and girls. The Government of Canada has also recently announced new initiatives, such as the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative, to raise awareness of and combat elder abuse in its many forms.
87. Examples of provincial measures to address violence against women and girls include Saskatchewan’s Strategy for Stopping Interpersonal Violence and Abuse and Québec’s “Action plan on sexual abuse 2008-2013”. The Government of Ontario established a Domestic Violence Advisory Council to provide advice on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of community and justice system supports to better meet the needs of women who are victims of domestic violence as well as their children. The Alberta Relationship Threat Assessment and Management Initiative aims to reduce and prevent fear, suffering, violence and death in high-risk relationship violence cases by providing an integrated criminal justice response. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Community Advisory Committee, developed under the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI), ensures that grass-roots information informs government policies.
95. Canada is believed to be primarily a transit and destination country for trafficking in persons (TIP). It is believed that victims that are being trafficked in Canada are largely destined for major centres in Canada such as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Intelligence indicates that trafficked persons in Canada are predominantly forced to work in the sex trade. Investigations conducted by Canadian law enforcement support these findings; TIP cases encountered by Canadian law enforcement involve women and children who are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
12. CERD regretted lack of progress on discrimination against First Nations women and children. CEDAW46, CERD47, CESCR48 and the Special Rapporteur on indigenous people49 urged legislative solutions addressing discriminatory effects of the Indian Act on the transmission of Indian status to children, the rights to marry, own property and inherit (under Matrimonial Real Property regulations50) and on economic, social and cultural rights for Aboriginal women and children. CEDAW recommended interpreting Section 67 of CHRA to provide full protection and redress for Aboriginal women.51 It was concerned that Aboriginal and ethnic minority women suffer from multiple discrimination in employment, housing, education and health care, with high rates of poverty, lack of access to clean water and low school completion rates. Canada should take measures, including temporary special measures, to eliminate de jure and de facto discrimination, to sensitize these women about their rights, and ensure they are empowered to participate in governance and legislative processes.52
16. The ILO Committee of Experts sought information on reports that 90 percent of women indicated having been sexually harassed in the course of employment, and on measures taken.68 HR Committee69 and CEDAW were concerned about the situation of women prisoners, particularly women with disabilities, Aboriginal and ethnic minority women. Canada was urged to end the presence of male guards in female prisons; redesign its classification system for federal women prisoners; ensure girls are held in single-sex youth prisons or detention centres; and establish an external redress and oversight independent mechanism for federal women prisoners based on CHRC recommendations.70
29. CESCR recommended that women’s right to work and the need for parents to balance work and family life be considered by providing adequate childcare services.105 In 2007, the ILO Committee of Experts cited a 2003 study which showed that women earned 71 percent of what men earned, and that the gap had changed little in a decade. The ILO Committee and CESCR106 urged provincial and territorial legislation to ensure equal remuneration for work of equal value in public and private sectors.107 A 2007 ILO report indicated that female migrants with university degrees from visible minorities suffer multiple discrimination.108
33. The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing noted that for a highly developed, wealthy country, Canada’s poverty figures were striking.112 CESCR was concerned that in 2004, 11.2 percent of the population lived in poverty, particularly Aboriginals, Afro-Canadians, immigrants, persons with disabilities, youth, low-income women and single mothers, and that significant differences persisted between provinces and territories.113 It recommended integrating economic, social and cultural rights into poverty reduction strategies.114
34. CESCR noted with concern that in most provinces and territories, social assistance benefits are lower than a decade ago, often at less than half the Low-Income Cut-Off and urged for social assistance levels allowing realization of an adequate standard of living.115 HR Committee recommended measures to ensure that such cuts do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable groups, and on women and children.116 CESCR strongly recommended that Canada reconsider retrogressive measures adopted in 1995.117
38. CESCR noted with concern that low-income, single-mother-led families and Aboriginal and Afro-Canadian families continue to be forced to relinquish children into foster care because of inadequate housing and urged Canada to assess the extent of the problem at all levels.124 It also recommended paying special attention to homeless girls.125
40. A 2005 UNESCO report noted the excellent performance of immigrant children in education.128 However, CESCR was concerned that Afro-Canadians face difficulties accessing education and experience disproportionately high secondary school drop-out rates.129 A 2006 UNESCO report noted that 17 percent of indigenous 15- to 49-year-olds reported no formal schooling or less than Grade 9 as their highest level of education, in contrast to 6 percent of non- indigenous. It noted also that over 40 percent of disabled children have only completed primary education.130
55. In 2007, the ILO Committee of Experts took note of amendments to the Criminal Code in 2005, creating three indictable offences, also welcomed by CEDAW,158 prohibiting trafficking in persons, providing more effective prohibitions against child trafficking.159 CEDAW welcomed the publication, in 2006, of new guidelines for immigration officers to ensure that victims receive consideration for immigration status.160 In 2005, the ILO Committee of Experts noted that under the Criminal Code, Canadian citizens or permanent residents who sexually abuse children or use child prostitutes whilst travelling abroad can be prosecuted for sexual offences.161
59. In 2006, the Government committed to actively pursue the implementation of human rights, including regarding racism, indigenous peoples and the protection of children; and international cooperation programmes on human rights, gender equality, child protection, democracy, good governance, and rule of law. It also pledged to re-extend its open invitation to special procedures.165
17. AFN said First Nations citizens were disadvantaged in personal income, employment, education and health, and drastically overrepresented in incarceration rates, disabilities, poor health indices, suicide and poverty.35 CHRC said that according to Canada’s Correctional Investigator, Aboriginal inmates often face systemic and institutional discrimination.36 The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) said that in 2008, Canada’s Auditor General confirmed research studies showing that funding for First Nations child and family services is inequitable to funding for non-Aboriginal children. It said children with disabilities, immigrant and refugee children, and children living in rural areas are also vulnerable to marginalization through inequitable treatment.37
24. CCRC recommended Canada prohibit all forms of violence against children, including corporal punishment, by repealing Section 43 of the Criminal Code. It made recommendations on the federal Government’s plans for a national strategy to prevent injury to children.48
37. Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) recommended the adoption of a federal poverty reduction strategy to tackle the persistent problem of poverty,70 saying 10.5 percent of Canadians have incomes insufficient for meeting basic needs. CCRC said it joined a wide network of NGOs in Canada, under the umbrella of “Make Poverty History”, in calling for Canada to develop such a strategy, including specific measures to address the various factors that contribute to child poverty and preventive strategies for homelessness and street children.71 Joint Submission Three (JS3)72 echoed the call for a national strategy, adding the need for special attention to difficulties faced by homeless girls.73
40. CPJ also said not all workers receive a living wage for paid employment, and Aboriginal Canadians, newcomers and refugees experience higher than average rates of poverty, in addition to racism and discrimination.78 AI added that a recent study of three provinces found that indigenous children were 15 times more likely to be removed from their families, in most cases, not because of abuse, but neglect, often due to poverty.
61. KAIROS said Canada places several barriers to refugee and migrant family reunification, with refugees sometimes forced to wait years to be reunited with spouses and children who often live in situations of danger and persecution.120
68. FIACAT said the Government continues not to request the repatriation of Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen awaiting trial before a military commission at Guantanamo. FIACAT believes Mr. Khadr is an example of a child soldier who under international law should be considered a victim, and needs medical and psychological treatment and full rehabilitation. It fears his trial will be no more than a formality leading to certain conviction and life imprisonment.137 Similar concerns on this case were expressed by ROC, LDL, CHRI and AI.138 Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) recommended Canada secure his release and his repatriation to Canada, and investigate violations of his rights.139
33. The Netherlands commended Canada for its commitment to human rights, its active role in the Council as Vice-President and the constructive dialogue in the UPR process. It asked about OP-CAT ratification. It recommended: a) that civil society be actively involved in the further UPR process of Canada; b) reinstating the policy of seeking clemency for all Canadian citizens sentenced to death in other countries; and c) strengthening and enlarging existing programmes and taking more and specific measures towards Aboriginals, particularly with regard to the improvement of housing, educational opportunities, especially after elementary school, employment, and that women’s and children’s rights are better safeguarded, in consultation with civil society. It welcomed the extension of equal rights to same-sex couples and protection from hate crimes on grounds including sexual orientation, recommending d) that the Yogyakarta principles be applied as a guide to assist in further policy development.
39. The Government targets investments for segments of the population which remain vulnerable: Aboriginal Canadians, disabled people, single older adults, new immigrants and lone parents. In its recent federal budget, it proposed further changes to the Employment Insurance programme; training for youth, older workers, and Aboriginal Canadians; the National Child Benefit supplement; the Canada Child Tax Benefit; and the Working Income Tax Benefit. The Federal Government partners with private and not-for-profit sectors, and provincial and territorial governments.
40. Brazil noted Canada’s long tradition of participation in the United Nations human rights system and its standing invitation to special rapporteurs, but that international human rights instruments are not self-executing. It suggested criminalising domestic violence. Brazil hoped Canada would reconsider its withdrawal from the Durban process. Brazil recommended: a) within the context of paragraph 1 a) of Council resolution 9/12, entitled “Human Rights Goals”, withdrawing Canadian reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly regarding the duty to detain children separately from adults; b) adhering to the American Convention on Human Rights; c) recognizing the justiciability of social, economic and cultural rights, in accordance with OP-ICESCR; d) considering signing and ratifying OP-CAT; and e) reconsidering the approach on the nature of prohibition of torture and reviewing the non- refoulement principles in Canadian domestic legislation.
42. Indonesia commended Canada for its efforts to harmonize legal norms with international commitments, but observed indigenous communities’ concerns at the lack of norms adequately protecting their rights. It recommended a) establishing policies to improve healthcare and general welfare of indigenous children; and b) as suggested by CERD, reviewing discriminatory national laws on security and adopt sensitization campaigns to protect against racial profiling and stereotyping on the grounds of nationality, ethnicity, descent and race, with regards to terrorism.
45. Integrate economic social and cultural rights in its poverty reduction strategies in a way that can benefit the most vulnerable groups in society, specially the Aborigines, afro-Canadians, migrants, persons with disabilities, youth, women with low incomes, and single mothers and adopt all necessary measures, including the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to guarantee Aboriginals the full enjoyment of their rights including economic, social and cultural so that their standard of living was similar to that of the rest of the citizens in Canada (Cuba);
46. The Philippines asked if the Government planned to review its federal Live-in Caregiver Program and address possible protection gaps. It recommended that Canada a) increase efforts to enhance protection of the human rights of migrants; b) hold open consultations with civil society on the ICRMW. It asked about plans for a national action plan to combat violence against women. It hoped human trafficking would be addressed through a human rights-based approach. It recommended c) strengthening enforcement legislation and programmes regarding prohibition of commercial sexual exploitation of children. It asked whether there is specific legislation covering conflicts between private mining corporations and indigenous peoples. It recommended d) involving civil society, in a meaningful and participatory manner, in the follow-up to the UPR .
47. Turkey referred to Canada’s active policy on women’s rights and commended the constitutionally-entrenched legal protection for women. It asked about criminalizing domestic violence. It recommended: a) taking further measures to ensure effective implementation of CEDAW at the federal, provincial and territorial levels, giving particular attention to Aboriginal women and girls, and; b) closely monitoring the situation of other disadvantaged groups such as women migrant workers, women prisoners and victims of trafficking. It noted treaty body observations of poverty among vulnerable groups, cited the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing’s concerns about homelessness and families living without access to drinking water and sanitation, and CESCR concerns that low-income Aboriginal and Afro-Canadian families had to relinquish children into foster care due to inadequate housing. Encouraged by Canada’s commitment to address these socio-economic disparities, it recommended Canada c) continue to work towards that end.
49. The Czech Republic recommended adopting further measures to ensure: a) accountability of the police for their proper, sensitive and effective conduct in cases of violence against women; and b) better protection of in particular Aboriginal women against all violence, including through addressing their low socio-economic status and discrimination against them; c) better accessibility of alternative/protected housing for victims of domestic violence. Following one of its advanced questions, the Czech Republic asked about measures to protect the rights of children of prisoners or detainees. It further recommended; d) the alteration of detention and prison facilities and standards of treatment for juveniles so that they are gender- sensitive and ensure effective protection of detainees’ and prisoners’ personal safety; e) accession to OP-CAT and establishment of the national preventive mechanism and adoption of additional measures to ensure full implementation without any exceptions of the principle of non-refoulement. It asked for elaboration on the mechanisms for the national follow-up to treaty body recommendations and recommended that they include f) participation of civil society and publication of the concluding recommendations of treaty bodies; and g) wide publication of the UPR outcome and establishment of regular and inclusive consultation with civil society as an integral part of the follow up to the UPR and also of the preparation of the next national report to the UPR.
50. Bolivia noted that the indigenous population in Canada live in conditions of inequality, and poverty and are more likely to commit suicide. Despite a number of programmes, the problem persisted. It recommended that Canada a) request from OHCHR the necessary support for the process of ratification of a greater number of international human rights instruments; b) implement in national norms the commitments made when ratifying the ICESCR and the CERD through the implementation of the recommendations which have come out of their respective Committees; c) take the provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into account in national legislation, because the Declaration is a United Nations document and represents guidelines for the conduct of States; d) implement in national legislation the prohibition and criminalization of all types of violence against women and children, specially indigenous women and children, in accordance with the commitments acquired in the corresponding Conventions; e) ratify and implement in national norms ILO Convention 169.
66. China noted that Canada provides medical services; primary and secondary education free of charge; promotes social welfare programmes, and has achieved progress in the rights of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. It noted efforts to protect Aboriginal rights, migrant rights, and combating racism. It noted inequalities between Aboriginals and other Canadians persist and sought clarification on specific measures to improve the situation. It recommended Canada ratify the ICRPD as soon as possible.
71. France acknowledged the impact of the distribution of power and authority between federal and provincial levels of government on treaty ratification, asking about incorporation of the commitments under the ICCPR into its domestic legislation, and whether Canada intends to adopt specific legislation on domestic violence. France recommended ratifying (a) OP-CAT and setting up a domestic torture prevention mechanism; (b) the Protocol on prevention and punishing of trafficking in human beings in particular women and children because this adds to the United Nations Convention against transnational organized crimes, and the 182 ILO Convention prohibiting the worst forms of child labour; and (c) CED.
78. The 2009 federal budget invests $1.4 billion for the following priority issues for Aboriginal peoples: training and skills development, housing, urgent needs such as improved access to drinking water, health programmes for the Inuit and First Nations, child services, and creation of economic opportunities.
85. The delegation noted that the review was an opportunity for Canada to examine its own record and benefit from the views of many states. Canada perceives its diversity as among its greatest strengths, as well as its democratic system, the strength and independence of its judicial institutions, commitment to the public education of children and the national pre-disposition to dialogue as the best means to resolve differences of opinion. The importance placed on freedom of opinion and expression is crucial for the protection of all human rights. It said a defining aspect of Canada’s approach to human rights is its open society, including its openness to international scrutiny.
Accepted and Rejected Recommendations
The following recommendations were accepted:
86. 34. Implement in national legislation the prohibition and criminalization of all types of violence against women and children, specially indigenous women and children, in accordance with the commitments acquired in the corresponding Conventions (Bolivia);
40. Strengthen enforcement legislation and programmes regarding prohibition of commercial sexual exploitation of children (Philippines);
42. Alter detention and prison facilities as well as standards of treatment for juveniles so that they are gender sensitive and ensure effective protection of detainees’ and prisoners’ personal safety (Czech Republic);
45. Integrate economic social and cultural rights in its poverty reduction strategies in a way that can benefit the most vulnerable groups in society, specially the Aborigines, afro-Canadians, migrants, persons with disabilities, youth, women with low incomes, and single mothers and adopt all necessary measures, including the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to guarantee Aboriginals the full enjoyment of their rights including economic, social and cultural so that their standard of living was similar to that of the rest of the citizens in Canada (Cuba);
46. Establish policies to improve healthcare and general welfare of indigenous children (Indonesia);
54. Strengthen and enlarge existing programmes and take more and specific measures towards Aboriginals, particularly with regard to the improvement of housing, educational opportunities, especially after elementary school, employment, and that women’s and children’s rights are better safeguarded, in consultation with civil society (The Netherlands);
The following recommendations were rejected:
86 :R - 9. Within the context of paragraph 1 (a) of resolution 9/12 of the Human Rights Council, entitled "Human Rights Goals", withdraw Canadian reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; particularly regarding the duty to detain children separately from adults (Brazil);