MEDIA ADVISORY: News Conference to Launch Powerful UN Submission on How Canada is Failing Indigenous Children
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
October 21, 2011
WHO:
The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (Caring Society) and
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (KAIROS) on the launch of their joint submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
News conference speakers will include the following people:
- The Honourable Landon Pearson, OC, Longtime advocate for the rights of the child and Caring Society Board Member (Moderator)
- Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, Caring Society
- Ed Bianchi, Indigenous Rights Program Coordinator, KAIROS
- Caitlin Tolley, Indigenous youth leader, First Nation Algonquin from the community of Kitigan-Zibi adjacent to Maniwaki, Quebec
- Vernie Yocogan-Diano, human rights and community activist from the Cordillera region of the Philippines and an Indigenous woman (Kankanaey-Bontoc) in Canada as part of KAIROS’ Living Courage Tour. http://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MR-11-10-LivingCourageTour.pdf
Read the tour blog at http://www.kairoscanada.org/dignity-rights/women-of-courage-2/blog/
WHAT: Launch of Honouring the Children, a powerful shadow report to Canada’s 3rd and 4th Periodic Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
WHERE: Charles Lynch Room, Centre Block, Parliamentary Press Gallery
WHEN: Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10AM EST
WHY: The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is about to undertake a
periodic review of how Canada is living up to its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Canada’s current treatment of Indigenous children represents a failure to meet its obligations under the UNCRC.
Honouring the Children provides 13 key recommendations on how it can begin to address this situation. The report also includes words and photos of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children calling on the government to act. It elaborates on Shannen’s Dream (http://www.fncfcs.com/shannensdream/ ) and Jordan’s Principle (http://www.fncfcs.com/jordans-principle)
Media Contacts:
Adiat Junaid
Communications Program Coordinator
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
(416) 463 5312, ext. 223
ajunaid@kairoscanada.org
www.kairoscanada.org
