The following article appeared in the June 22 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
The T-shirts on a nearby table said it all yesterday as the region adopted a children’s charter of rights: “protect me,” “accept me” and “love me.”
Stay-at-home mom Becky Roche sat in the audience with two of her three children.
It’s vital for children to grow up in nurturing, protective environments where they feel safe and appreciated, Roche, 30, said after the official ceremony yesterday at the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
“For me, personally, it is so important for any children as they’re growing,” said Roche, who along with husband James Roche are raising their three children, Alyssa, 8, Brooke, 7, and Trinity, 4.
“They are our future,” she said of today’s youth.
Over the past two years, a group of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Report Card Coalition on the Well-Being of Children, a collection of community groups and service providers, created the Children’s Charter of Rights. As of yesterday, it had been endorsed by more than 50 area organizations.
Local parents, community groups and social activists filled Aboyne Hall for the unveiling.
Though Canada has a charter of rights, Jennifer MacLeod said after the meeting a special children’s charter is needed because, as the United Nations has acknowledged, kids are the most vulnerable part of society. The children’s charter increases public awareness of that fact, she said.
“It raises the profile. It makes us aware we need to look at children a little differently,” said MacLeod, co-chair of the report card coalition.
Area Family Counselling and Support Services executive director Jack Watkins said he was appalled that despite Canada’s wealth “one in six kids lives in poverty in this country.”
He appealed to organizations in the area to meet the goals of the children’s charter. “We want this to be a living document. It’s not intended to hang on the wall,” Watkins said.
Guelph Councillor Ian Findlay said the children’s charter is being adopted at city hall.
“In the future, each incoming mayor will re-sign the charter,” Findlay announced. “It’s obvious a commitment to children is alive and well in this community.”
CHILDREN’S CHARTER OF RIGHTS:
These are the children’s rights to be protected under the new charter:
a quality of life that meets their physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social needs
have basic needs met including nutritious food, a healthy environment and a safe and comfortable place to live
access quality and affordable child care, early education programs and/or parenting support
safe places and time to play, and access to affordable recreational activities
quality education to enable them to reach their full potential
protection from neglect, abuse and exposure to family violence
quality time with their families and/or other nurturing and positive role models throughout their childhood
be accepted for who they are, and believe what they want without being discriminated against.