Government Efforts to Address Bullying in Canada: Any Place for Children’s Rights?

Abstract

<p>Recently, governments in Canada have increased efforts to address bullying in schools primarily through the adoption of laws and policies. This paper examines these measures using a child rights framework, based on Canada’s international legal obligations. It examines the language of child rights and human rights that is present in these efforts, as well as the content of legislation and policies. Analysis is guided by the main child rights principles: non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, the child’s right to survival and development, and respect for the views of the child. The findings point to a fragmented presence of child rights in provincial efforts and their absence in federal efforts. The authors contend that the explicit inclusion of child rights in education legislation is a minimal step to ensure a more uniform and systematic application of child rights in all anti-bullying initiatives.</p>