Public Eye reports on criticisms of the recent B.C. section of Canada’s report on the rights of the child to the United Nations, under the Convention of the Rights of the Child reporting requirements:

Last year, a leading advocacy group warned the federal government that British Columbia had introduced legislation “weakening child labour protections.” But a recent Canadian submission to the United Nations included the regulatory change accompanying that legislation in a list of measures protecting children from economic exploitation.First Call included the warning in a July 2008 briefing requested by the federal government’s heritage department. The briefing was meant to inform that submission, which reported on Canada’s progress in meeting international child rights laws between 1998 and 2007.

“We realize the following list focus on identified shortcomings and concerns, as these were the matters that were top of mind for our partners, many of whom work with populations of vulnerable and disadvantage children and youth” wrote First Call, which represents more than 90 non-governmental organizations.

“We want to acknowledge at the outest that we understand there are many areas where Canada and individual provinces have made good progress in upholding children’s rights oh through policy and practice during the reporting period, and we fully expect these advances will be detailed in Canada’s report. read more