Courtesy Children First Canada
Sept. 1, 2020
Child advocates ring the alarm in new report on children in Canada
A report released as children and youth head back to school outlines how the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the challenges young Canadians face.
Raising Canada 2020 outlines how the ‘threats’ faced by Canadian children, including mental illness, food insecurity, child abuse, physical inactivity, and poverty are increasing, or may increase, due to the impact of COVID-19.
“This report is a stark reminder of the significant threats to child health and wellness in Canada likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dr. Brent Hagel, PhD, a report co-author and member of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “It is also a call to action for us to address these issues and protect children's rights.”
Raising Canada 2020 is the third in an annual series of reports that track the top threats to childhood. The report is jointly published by the national non-profit Children First Canada, the O’Brien Institute and ACHRI.
The statistics are alarming
The statistics in this year’s report are alarming: One-third of children in Canada do not enjoy a safe and healthy childhood; one in three Canadians has experienced abuse before the age of 15; one in five children lives in poverty; and suicide is now the leading cause of death for children age 10 to 14.
The odds are particularly stark for Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit), and other racialized children. These children are more likely to be exposed to adverse childhood experiences such as poverty and abuse, be overrepresented in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and be suspended or expelled from school because of systemic racism and discrimination.
“Since the outset of the pandemic, we have been worried that children were being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Early indicators from this report suggest that children’s health is in jeopardy,” says Sara Austin, founder and CEO of Children First Canada. “How the government chooses to respond will change the trajectory of children’s lives.”
For more than a decade, child advocacy groups have warned the state of childhood in Canada is on the decline. Canada now ranks 25th out of 41 affluent nations for protecting the well-being of children, according to UNICEF — a drop from 12th place in 2007.
Now, children and their families face additional challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights how health services and surgeries for children have been cancelled or postponed, and access to social services has been limited. Daycare and school closures have impacted the education of children, and has also cut off their access to nutritional programs and safeguards against abuse.
Throughout the pandemic, children have been disproportionately affected by lockdown restrictions. This sheds light on the inequity that exists within Canadian society.
As challenging a time as this pandemic is for children, Austin says the report also highlights that along with children’s vulnerability, they also have incredible strength, resilience and wisdom.
“Children must be able to freely express their views and be engaged in Canada’s recovery efforts,” says Austin. “Truly child-centred policies can only happen when we act with children, rather than acting for them.”
Taking action on climate change
Climate change continues to be one of the top concerns for children and youth — both its impact on their current health and also their future, says Austin.
Lyza Ells, 17, from Antigonish, N.S. says it is essential that the government take concrete action on the issues facing children and youth, such as climate change.
“While we make up a significant part of Canada’s population, we are not given a voice in the decisions that affect us,” she says. “It is crucial for our government to bear in mind our nation’s silenced youth when making decisions on important issues such as our environment and the climate crisis.”
Raising Canada 2020 has been distributed to Canadian MPs and Senators. Children First Canada, including its youth advisory council, will meet with Canada’s minister of health, Patty Hajdu, to discuss the findings of the report.
Additional report co-authors from the University of Calgary include Dr. Candace Lind, PhD, member of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health, and associate professor, Faculty of Nursing, and Dr. Gail MacKean, PhD, member of the O'Brien Institute for Public Health and adjunct assistant professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, CSM.
Brent Hagel is a professor in the departments of Paediatrics and Community Health Sciences at the CSM and holds a joint-appointment at the Faculty of Kinesiology. He is a member of the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, the O’Brien Institute of Public Health and the Integrated Concussion Research Program.
Watoto Kwanza: Canada Septemba 1, 2020 - Watetezi wa watoto wanapiga kengele katika ripoti mpya juu ya watoto nchini Canada Ripoti iliyotolewa wakati watoto na vijana wanarudi shule inaelezea jinsi janga la COVID-19 limeongeza changamoto vijana wa Canada wanakabiliwa nazo. Raising Canada 2020 inaelezea jinsi 'hatari' zinazowakabili watoto wa Canada, ikiwa ni pamoja na ugonjwa wa akili, ukosefu wa usalama wa chakula, unyanyasaji wa watoto, ukosefu wa shughuli za mwili, na umaskini, zinaongezeka, au zinaweza kuongezeka, kwa sababu ya athari za COVID-19. "Hati hii ni ukumbusho mkali wa vitisho vikubwa kwa afya na ustawi wa watoto nchini Canada, vinavyoweza kuongezeka na janga la COVID-19,"" anasema Dk Brent Hagel, PhD, mwandishi mwenza wa ripoti na mwanachama wa Taasisi ya O'Brien ya Afya ya Umma na Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Hospitali ya Watoto ya Alberta (ACHRI) katika Shule ya Tiba ya Cumming." "Hii ni mwito kwa hatua yetu ya kushughulikia masuala haya na kulinda haki za watoto. ""Kuzidisha Canada 2020"" ni ya tatu katika mfululizo wa ripoti za kila mwaka ambazo hufuatilia vitisho vikubwa kwa utoto." Ripoti hiyo imechapishwa kwa pamoja na shirika la kitaifa lisilo la faida la Watoto Kwanza Canada, Taasisi ya O'Brien na ACHRI. Takwimu za mwaka huu zinaonyesha kuwa asilimia moja ya watoto nchini Canada hawaishi maisha ya usalama na afya, mmoja kati ya watatu amewahi kutendewa vibaya kabla ya kufikia umri wa miaka 15, mmoja kati ya watoto watano anaishi katika umaskini na kujiua sasa ni kisababishi kikuu cha vifo vya watoto wenye umri wa miaka 10 hadi 14. Matatizo ni mabaya hasa kwa watoto weusi, wenyeji (Watu wa Kwanza, Métis na Inuit), na watoto wengine wa jamii mbalimbali. Watoto hao wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuathiriwa na uzoefu mbaya wa utotoni kama vile umaskini na unyanyasaji, kuwa na uwakilishi wa juu katika mifumo ya ustawi wa watoto na haki za vijana, na kusimamishwa au kufukuzwa kutoka shule kwa sababu ya ubaguzi wa rangi na ubaguzi wa mfumo. "Kuanzia mwanzo wa janga hilo, tumekuwa na wasiwasi kwamba watoto wanaathiriwa sana na janga hilo.""" "Vipimo vya awali kutoka kwa ripoti hii vinaonyesha kuwa afya ya watoto iko hatarini, ""anasema Sara Austin, mwanzilishi na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Watoto Kwanza Canada." "Kwa zaidi ya miaka kumi, makundi ya kutetea watoto yamekuwa yakionya kuwa hali ya utotoni nchini Canada inazidi kupungua.""" Canada sasa iko katika nafasi ya 25 kati ya mataifa 41 tajiri kwa kulinda ustawi wa watoto, kulingana na UNICEF - kushuka kutoka nafasi ya 12 mnamo 2007. Watoto na familia zao wanakabiliwa na changamoto za ziada kutokana na janga la COVID-19. Ripoti hiyo imebainisha jinsi huduma za afya na upasuaji kwa watoto umefutwa au kuahirishwa, na upatikanaji wa huduma za kijamii umepunguzwa. Kufungwa kwa shule na vituo vya utunzaji wa watoto kumesababisha matatizo ya elimu ya watoto na pia kukatisha upatikanaji wa programu za lishe na ulinzi dhidi ya unyanyasaji. Katika kipindi chote cha janga hilo, watoto wameathiriwa sana na vizuizi vya kufungwa. Jambo hilo linaonyesha ukosefu wa usawa uliopo katika jamii ya Kanada. """Wakati wa changamoto kama janga hili kwa watoto, ripoti hiyo pia inaonyesha kwamba pamoja na udhaifu wa watoto, pia wana nguvu ya ajabu, uvumilivu na hekima." "Watoto wanapaswa kuwa na uwezo wa kuelezea maoni yao kwa uhuru na kushiriki katika juhudi za Canada za kupona", anasema Austin. """Sera za kweli za watoto zinaweza kutokea tu tunapofanya kazi na watoto, badala ya kufanya kazi kwa ajili yao,"" alisema Austin, ambaye pia ni mwanaharakati wa mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na mchanga, akisema mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanaendelea kuwa moja ya wasiwasi mkubwa kwa watoto na vijana, athari zake kwa afya yao ya sasa na pia kwa siku zao zijazo." Liza Ells, 17, kutoka Antigonish, New South Wales """Ni muhimu kwa serikali kuchukua hatua halisi katika masuala yanayowakabili watoto na vijana, kama vile mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa." "Wakati tunaunda sehemu kubwa ya idadi ya watu wa Canada, hatupati sauti katika maamuzi ambayo yanatuathiri", anasema. """Ni muhimu kwa serikali yetu kuzingatia vijana wa taifa letu waliofungwa wakati wa kufanya maamuzi juu ya masuala muhimu kama mazingira yetu na mgogoro wa hali ya hewa,"" alisema Rais wa Canada, Raising Canada 2020." Watoto Kwanza Canada, pamoja na baraza lake la ushauri la vijana, watakutana na waziri wa afya wa Canada, Patty Hajdu, kujadili matokeo ya ripoti hiyo. "Wanafunzi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Calgary, pamoja na Candace Lind, PhD, mwanachama wa Taasisi ya O'Brien ya Afya ya Umma, na profesa msaidizi, Kitivo cha Uuguzi, na Gail MacKean, PhD, mwanachama wa Taasisi ya O'Brien ya Afya ya Umma na profesa msaidizi, Idara ya Sayansi ya Afya ya Jumuiya, CSM. """ Brent Hagel ni profesa katika idara ya Pediatrics na Sayansi ya Afya ya Jumuiya katika CSM na ana nafasi ya pamoja katika Kitivo cha Kinesiolojia. Yeye ni mwanachama wa Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Alberta Watoto Hospitali ya Utafiti Taasisi, O'Brien Taasisi ya Afya ya Umma na Integrated Concussion Research Program.