In 1991, the Canadian government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which they signed onto in 1990. The UNCRC, like the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child which preceded it, is very clear in stating that the rights and legal protection of children are paramount in both born and pre-born children. The preamble from the UNCRC states, “Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, “the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth”. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of a Child that Canada signed onto is a binding agreement, that our country is in direct violation of.
Canada needs to adhere to the commitments made when signing the UNCRC. The lack of restrictions on abortion are not only way out of line with all other Western nations but are also an egregious infringement on the rights of children as recognized by the United Nations.
]]>Published: Saturday, October 5, 2013
For the last two years Prime Minister Stephen Harper has arrived in New York just in time for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. And both times Harper has found something more important to do. 
This year, rather than address the General Assembly, the Prime Minister spent his time participating in a panel discussion on the UN’s maternal and child health initiative.
Harper’s interest here is natural. Since partnering with other G8 countries on the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Heath in 2010, Canada has committed over $200 million to help mothers and babies in the world’s developing countries. The Prime Minister reported this week that great strides are being made: “The world is making significant progress in improving the health of women and children in developing countries and reducing the unacceptable mortality rates faced by these vulnerable populations.” This success Harper said is because Canadian funding is going to pay for immunizations, basic health and community services designed to ease the dangers surrounding pregnancy and childbirth.
You would think most Canadians would embrace this charitable use of their tax dollars, but Canada’s commitment has not been without controversy.
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