On 11 May at the Phi Centre in Montreal, the International Bureau for Children’s Rights (hereafter IBCR) invited political decision-makers and actors concerned with the well-being of children in Quebec to reflect on how to better integrate children into the actions and debates that concern them.
This event is the result of a two-year project (the “Parole aux jeunes!” project), during which more than 70 teenagers (14-17 years old) from the Montreal metropolitan area were mobilised, trained and questioned on how to better engage teenagers on the risks of abuse and sexual exploitation online and on related issues, including consent.
Through a series of meetings, discussions, workshops and trainings, they were able to exchange on the subject, react to prevention campaigns conducted in the province and survey their entourage to deepen their analysis. This work and commitment resulted in the formulation of recommendations so that the prevention tools intended for them would be more effective and better reflect their reality.
The project was able to count on the support of an advisory committee made up of deputies, representatives of the Ministries of Public Security and Education, the Secrétariat à la condition féminine, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal and representatives of several organisations working to prevent and combat sexual exploitation. Their participation allowed the project to be consolidated on the basis of past experiences and lessons learned in the field, but also to involve them as people with the power to listen to young people and increase their participation.
On sexual exploitation, as on other issues, children need to be included in discussions and decisions that affect them. This is to ensure the implementation of their right to participation as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Canada in 1991. The International Bureau for Children’s Rights thus encourages the Government of Quebec and the actors concerned to systematically involve children in the issues that concern them.
Discover the teenagers’s recommendations (in french only)
The Parole aux Jeunes project was implemented in partnership with :
This project is made possible thanks to the financial support of the City of Montreal and the Quebec Ministry of Justice.
Proud partner of the City of Montreal’s Children’s Policy.
