Protection Legislation

Prevention of Violence Against Children & Youth

International

• United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child - PDF or Web Page
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
• International Humanitarian Law (IHL), 1949
• The Geneva Conventions of 1949
• Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• United Nations Convention Against Trans-National Organized Crime
• Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Trans-national Organized Crime
• Resolution 1261 (1999) of the Security Council
• Resolution 1265 (1999) of the Security Council
• Resolution 1314 (2000) of the Security Council
• Resolution 1325 (2000) of the Security Council
• Resolution 1379 (2001) of the Security Council
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol, 2007
• Convention 182 Concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Striving for Elimination of Child Labour and Protection of Children and Young Persons

National

• Canada Evidence Act
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982
• Canadian Human Rights Act, 19977
• Bill C-21 An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, 2007
• Criminal Code of Canada 
• Indian Act
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), 2001 
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and Rules, 2002
• Indian Act
• Youth Criminal Justice Act

Canada has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has signed the:

• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (see International, above)
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (see International, above)
• Convention Against Trans-National Organized Crime (see International, above)
• Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention Against Trans-National Organized Crime, 2000 (see International, above)
• Convention 182 concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Striving for Elimination of Child Labour and Protection of Children and Young Persons (see International, above)

Provincial/Territorial

• Alberta
• Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act
• Drug-Endangered Children Act
• Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act
• British Columbia
• Child, Family and Community Service Act, 1996  
• Child, Family and Community Service Regulation, 1996
• Manitoba
• The Child and Family Services Act, 1985
• The Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act
• The Adoption Act
• The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Act
• The Child and Family Services Authorities Act
• New Brunswick
• Family Services Act, 1983
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Child, Youth and Family Services Act *currently under legislative review
• Northwest Territories
• Child and Family Services Act, 1997
• Nova Scotia
• Children and Family Services Act, amended 2002
• Adoption Information Act, 1996
• Nunavut
• Child and Family Services Act, 1997
• Ontario
• Memorandum 145 - Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student behaviour 2009
• Child and Family Services Act, 1990
• Children's Law Reform Act, 1990
• Family Law Act, 1990
• Prince Edward Island
• Child Protection Act, 2003
• Adoption Act
• Quebec
• Youth Protection Act, 2009  in French only
• Civil Code of Québec
• Saskatchewan
• Adoption Act, 1998
• Child and Family Services Act, 1990
• The Emergency Protection for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Act, 2002
• Yukon Territory
• Children's Act, 2002

Relationship Violence

International

• United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child   (pdf)    Convention on the Rights of the Child  (web page)
• Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women  

National

• Criminal Code of Canada 
• Bill C-2 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to Make Consequential Amendments to Other Acts, 2005 
• BILL C-15A:  An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to Amend Other Acts, 2002
• Bill C-79, 1999
• Criminal Code (R.S., 1985, c. C-46), 1997  - amended the Criminal Code to strengthen the criminal harassment (stalking) provisions – see s. 264, Criminal Code
• Bill C-72, 1995
• Youth Criminal Justice Act

Provincial and Territorial

Provincial and territorial governments make laws in areas of their own jurisdiction, including providing victims' services. To date, six provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan ) and two territories ( Northwest Territories and Yukon ) have proclaimed specific legislation on family violence:

• Alberta
• Protection Against Family Violence Act
• Manitoba
• The Domestic Violence and Stalking Act
• The Domestic Violence and Stalking Act Regulation 117/99
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Family Violence Protection Act
• Northwest Territories
• Protection Against Family Violence Act
• Nova Scotia
• Domestic Violence Intervention Act
• Prince Edward Island
• Victims of Family Violence Act 
• Saskatchewan
• Victims of Domestic Violence Act 
• Yukon Territory
• Family Violence Prevention Act

Preventing Bullying and Harassment

International

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child   (pdf)    Convention on the Rights of the Child  (web page)
• Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

National

• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedomz, 1982
• Canadian Human Rights Act, 1977
• Canadian Multiculturalism Act

Provincial and Territorial

• Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Multiculturalism Act
• Manitoba
• The Manitoba Multiculturalism Act
• Alberta
• Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act
• Ontario
• Bill 14, Anti-Bullying Act, 2012
• Ministry of Citizenship and Culture Act
• Memorandum 144 - Bullying Prevention and Intervention 2007
• Quebec
• Bill n°56 : An Act to prevent and stop bullying and violence in schools
• Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
• Nova Scotia
• Act to Promote and Preserve Multiculturalism
• New Brunswick
• New Brunswick's Policy on Multiculturalism
• PEI
• PEI Multicultural Policy
• British Columbia
• Multiculturalism Act

Note:  Please remember to check your municipal by-laws regarding bullying and harassment.

Workplace Violence

National

• Canada Labour Code (R.S., 1985, c. L-2) 
• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)

Provincial and Territorial

• Alberta
• Occupational Health & Safety Code (2009)
• Preventing Violence and Harassment at the Workplace (PDF)
• British Columbia
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
• Manitoba
• The Workplace Safety and Health Act
• Workplace Safety and Health Regulations
• Guidelines for Preventing Harassment and Violence in the Workplace
• Bill 219 - The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act (Harassment and Violence in the Workplace)
• Understanding Manitoba’s New Requirements for Preventing Harassment at Work (PDF)
• New Brunswick
• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Newfoundland & Labrador
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Nova Scotia
• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Violence in the Workplace Regulations
• Ontario
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 
• Bill 168, Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace) 2009
• Prince Edward Island
• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• OHS Act General Regulations
• Quebec
• Act Respecting Labour Standards
• Saskatchewan
• The OHS Act, 1993
• The OHS Regulations, 1996
• Yukon
• Occupational Health and safety Act
• Workers' Compensation Health and safety Board Code of Practice 2009/01 - Young and new workers

Other Useful Links:

• Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
• A Canada Fit for Children - April 2004
• A World Fit for Children, 2002
• Progress for Children: A World Fit for Children Statistical Review (No. 6)

NOTE: Though every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information provided in these links, Canadian Red Cross takes no responsibility for the information or its source. Always contact your local government office or regulatory body to ensure you are in compliance with the latest legislation.

Posted October 31, 2012