Posters Promote Children's Rights

Posters Promote Children's Rights

Winners have been chosen from schools across the province for this year's poster contest on children's rights.

This year's contest, sponsored by the Office of the Ombudsman, celebrates the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The theme is the State of Aboriginal Children.

Six winners are from Eskasoni Elementary and Middle School. They are:

• Miley Bernard
• Cassie Cremo
• Bethany Denny
• Madison Young
• Danneri Gould
• August Marie Joe

Other winners are:

• Chelsea Cook, Hillcrest Academy, Shelburne
• Meghan MacKinnon, Mount Carmel Elementary, New Waterford
• Jacques Saulnier, École secondaire de Clare, La Butte, Digby Co.
• Abby Garren, Lockeport Regional High School, Lockeport, Shelburne Co.
• Christopher Bearne, Gorsebrook Junior High, Halifax

"While the contest is always fun, the subject matter this year is rooted in serious issues affecting aboriginal children and youth," said acting Ombudsman Christine Delisle-Brennan.

As of April, Nova Scotia had 1,160 children and youth in care, 278 were aboriginal, representing 24 per cent of the total.

"That percentage is smaller than in most provinces, but the numbers remain disproportionate," said Ms. Delisle-Brennan. "They are a component of larger social and economic challenges facing our aboriginal population."

The Office of the Ombudsman has a youth services unit that functions as a child advocacy office for Nova Scotia providing services to all children in care and custody in the province.

The Nova Scotia Ombudsman's Office is a member of the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates and supports the council's initiative to establish a National Children's Commissioner, with particular emphasis on aboriginal children and youth.

"That step alone would lift the profile of aboriginal children and the challenges they face," said Ms. Delisle-Brennan.

"The children's posters play their part too, often more forcefully than words."

Winning posters can be viewed at www.gov.ns.ca/ombu.