Best interests The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child “CHILDREN NEED a special doctrine to protect their rights because of their physical and emotional immaturi- ty,” said B.C.’s Deputy Ombudsman for Children and Youth, D. Brent Parfitt at a Shore Family Services Society tions Convention on the Rights “There are 2,000 complaints per year made by children or their advocates to the Ombudsman’s office,” Parfitt said. But he added that NSFSS ‘provides one of the best integrated services for children in the province.” NSFSS is a United Way member agency that provides fam- ily counselling, special needs recent meeting of the North (NSFSS) on the United Na- of the Child. By Janice Mucalov Contributing Writer adoption services and sexual abuse programs. Each year the society touches the lives of one in 14 in- dividuals on the North Shore. Provincial legislation already stipulates that children have cer- THE DEPUTY Ombudsman for Children and Youth, D. Brent Parfitt addresses the annual generai meeting of the North Shore Family Services Society. Parfitt's preseniation focused on the rights of chifdren as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. OVER 150,000 SaTIS#e> 5 CAL SPAS *. AL SPAS-* CAL SPA ay = oe oe Net sald with ons otter spwenar C ssun resin. tens atte Friday STORE id SPAS *CAL:8PAS.°. . G. a pape rer na Ml. XL B00 Gazebo 84495 988-4006 Mon. - Thurs. Saturday Sunday 1480 MARINE DR., NORTH VAN. CAL SPAS: +. CAL SPAS + CAL SPAS + CAL SPAS. + CAL SPAS. BUC Se “VER e CAL SPAS CUSTOMERS! S Spa (as above) 03 OR $157 mo. OAC, CAL-SPAS« CAL SPAS ° CA -L SPAS + CAL: SPAS * CAL SPAS ¢:$ t. 9:30-7:00 9:30-9:00 10:00-6:00 Noon-5:00 “SPAB |C tain rights, such as the right to protection from neglect or abuse, and the cight to education. But Parfitt said that the United Nations convention, which guar- antees the rights of children in all parts of the world to survival, protection and development, dif- fers in some respects from existing legislation. “One of the most important parts of the convention is Article 3 which provides that all actions affecting children shall take the best interests of the child into ac- count,’’ Parfitt explained. B.C.’s Family and Child Ser- vices Act provides that decisions NEWS photo Stuart Davis ANNOUNCES THE heeeglits STERLING 100 3 Undercounter Dishwasher aHCome discover the latest | ‘Scourmaster’ dishwashers § by Inglis in decorator white or standard black. Excellent § 4 performance. HOME FURNISHINGS § : 1075 Roasevelt Crescent North Vancouver # (2 blocks behind the Avalon Hotel) OPEN DAILY; Fri. 9-9; Sun. 12-4 about apprehending children are to be based on whether they are *tin need of protection.” “Our office has recommended thuc the ‘best interests’ test should be used instead in all legislation involving children,”’ he said. Other important provisions of the convention Parfitt discussed were sections providing that children have the right to live with their parents, unless incompatible with their best interests, and to have access to both parents if they are separated. The convention also requires that the state assist parents with nutrition, clothing and housing for their children. Married with four children, Parfitt told the NSFSS meeting that street youth tend (o rely on a controversial part of the conven- tion allowing for the right to associate with whomever one chooses. That could cause prob- lems, he said, when trying 10 break up gangs. The convention on child rights was adopted by the United Na- tions general assembly in 1989; Canada is expected to ratify it in the fall of 1990 after all the pro- vinces have indicated their sup- port. _—— LEVOLOR Sunday, July 14, 1991 - Nonh Shore News - “B.C. has informally advised the federal government that it supports ratification,’ he added. Parfitt relayed to his audience a story of a Victoria street youth who won 2 nation-wide competi- tion to mect privately with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney about the convention before Mulroney hosted the United Nations Summit last year. “There had been a lot of input from lawyers and policy people, but little input from children themselves,”’ Parfitt said. As director of a Victoria youth program called Cooks Down Under, Parfitt had approached the teenagers to write essays and pro- duce videos incorporating their own views on the convention for presentation to the Canadian Council on Children and Youth. “One of our 15-year-old boys who sported a Tory-blue Mohawk haircut was eventually unani- mously selected by his peers in Ottawa to talk with Mr. Mulroney,’’ he said. ‘‘There was some concern reported in the Papers about his hairstyle, but we were very proud of his achieve- ment and the recognition he received.’” Seared The Affordabee Lukury ‘| Save 40% off Fabric Verticals 4” Minis 4,3? Micros |__ LEVOLOR Hurry, limited time offer ends July 40! (SHADE BETTER 4 yaa. & d d d Specializing in Blinds and Draperies for over 7 years 1877 Marine Drive, N.Van. 034-44 G4 #4-38918 Progress Way, Squamish 892-5857 Whistler 932-6617