The Role of Canada’s Child and Youth Advocates: A Social Constructionist Approach

Abstract

The role of Canadian Child Advocates has been under-researched by academics and civil society alike, and the following paper addresses this knowledge deficit with findings from a graduate study (Bendo, 2016) reviewing their legislative and professional roles through a sociology of childhood lens. The aim was to investigate the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates (cccya), and data was derived through a discourse analysis of legal, policy and media documents, and in-depth interviews with five current and former Advocates. This exploratory, qualitative study employed a critical ethnographic methodology, and findings indicate that child advocacy is a complex phenomenon with ample opportunities, although numerous barriers exist hindering the work and affecting the quality of outcomes. The study’s main argument suggests the role of the Advocates is not well understood by Canada’s children, youth or the public at large, and may be hampered by a continued lack of cross-national, multi-systemic implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at federal, provincial and territorial levels.

Analyzing the Portrayals of Child Sexual Abuse of Urdu Newspapers in Developing Countries

“…They also can increase awareness and motivate people to act against such abuse. For this reason, newspapers can influence people's perceptions about such matters and help them look at their behaviors (Bendo & Mitchell, 2017).…”

“…They help alter people's attitudes, thereby counteracting child sexual abuse in society (Saunders & Goddard, 2002). Efforts made by the media have positively influenced law-making bodies regarding children's-rights preservation policies and political responses on a broader level (Bendo & Mitchell, 2017). Media campaigns also help encourage people to stand against injustice by spreading awareness that child sexual abuse is an infringement of human rights (Agboola, 2020;Saint-Jacques et al, 2012).…”

“…In the digital media age, the public can notice and understand such issues (Weatherred, 2015) and help prevent child abuse. A study conducted by Bendo and Mitchell (2017) examined the link between media reporting and children's-rights coverage in Canada and found a significant relationship between media attention to children's-rights reports and cases reported to child-protection organizations. The media's role is also linked to the policy and practice of child-abuse awareness.…”

Parallel lines? Childhood discourses emphasized by the children’s rights movement and the emerging field of children’s rights studies

“…Fifth, CRS has contributed to theoretical understandings about how children’s rights and the CRC are applied in various environments and contexts (Bendo and Mitchell, 2017; Hanson, 2014; Mitchell, 2005; Mitchell and McCusker, 2008; Percy-Smith and Taylor, 2008; Reynaert et al, 2010; Vandenbroeck and Bouverne-De Bie, 2006) as opposed to mainly focusing on monitoring and implementation of the CRC (Marshall, 1999; Polonko and Lombardo, 2015; Quennerstedt, 2010; Reynaert et al, 2012) although researchers have focused on this important area as well (Ennew and Miljeteig, 1996; Polonko and Lombardo, 2015; Quennerstedt, 2011; Reynaert et al, 2009; Taylor et al, 2001; Woll, 2000).…”

An Interview with Landon Pearson: On the Role of a Commissioner for Canada’s Children

“…However, their mandates do focus on the protection and promotion of the rights of children under the care of their provincial or territorial governments. This means that across the country, education is completely excluded from the Advocate Offices' mandates (Bendo, 2015;2016). Furthermore, they are not mandated to intervene on issues that fall under federal jurisdiction.…”