United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
The governments of Quebec and Canada are committed to enforcing and upholding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for all children in Quebec and Canada. Anyone under 18 is considered a child.
- Non-discrimination: All children have rights, regardless of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, social status, etc.
- Devotion to the child’s best interests in all matters that affect them. You must meet their specific needs and respect their rights.
- Children’s right to life, survival and development, including intellectual, emotional, cognitive, social and cultural development.
- Participation. Children’s views must be taken into account in matters that affect them.
The right to play, to express oneself and be heard, to go to school and to be safe from violence.
In Canada and Quebec, parents can discipline their children only in certain ways. Some examples of acceptable punishments include forbidding your child to go out with friends, watch television or go on the internet.
The government has very strict rules regarding the use of force. Parents must use a reasonable level of force to discipline their children. If you do not follow these rules, you could be reported to the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) or face criminal charges.
The following types of punishment are forbidden in Canada under any circumstances:
- Punishment using objects such as rulers or belts
- Punishment that might injure
- Slaps or punches to the head
- Inhumane or degrading punishment
- Physical punishment of a child under two
- Physical punishment of a teenager
Every region in Quebec has a Director of Youth Protection (DYP). The DYP and their team work with children and parents to protect the child’s best interests and rights. The purpose of the DYP is to put an end to situations that may jeopardize a child’s safety or development and to prevent such situations from reoccurring.
The DYP mainly intervenes in situations where children are:
- Abandoned
- Neglected
- Emotionally abused
- Sexually abused
- Physically abused
- Struggling with serious behavioural problems
- Facing serious risk of being neglected or sexually or physically abused
Most of the time, the DYP receives reports by phone. If you encounter such a situation, you must report it to the DYP so they can review the situation and the child’s living conditions.