September 13-14, 2004 Conference: A Canada Fit For Children: A South Asian Plan of Action

A Canada Fit for Children:
A South Asian Plan of Action

September 13-14, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

South Asia Partnership Canada, the Canadian Society for International Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada, the Canadian Teachers� Federation, the Children and Armed Conflict Working Group of the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee, UNICEF Canada and Action Canada for Population and Development invite you to a participatory conference to accelerate the implementation of “A Canada Fit for Children”, Canada’s National Plan of Action in South Asia.

Background

On April 22, 2004, the Canadian Government submitted A Canada Fit For Children, Canada’s official response to its commitment for a National Plan of Action for children made at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children in May 2002. An important feature of this plan is what Canada will do internationally to help children. This participatory conference will focus on South Asia, where there is the greatest concentration of people – and children – in poverty.

Objectives of this Participatory Conference:

• Draft an early response to “A Canada Fit for Children” focusing on South Asian children and establish benchmarks for its implementation.
• Outline a South Asian strategy and recommendations for Canada and the National Plan of Action.
• Facilitate networking/build partnerships for NGO involvement in the National Plan of Action in South Asia.

Conference Program

View the Program.

Senator Landon Pearson, who has led the development of “A Canada Fit For Children” for the Government of Canada, will give the keynote address to the plenary of this conference. Participants will then move into parallel workshops on three of the plan’s key themes:

• Promoting healthy lives, including combating HIV/AIDS – led by the Canadian Society for International Health and Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada;
• Promoting education and learning – led by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, and
• Protecting from harm – led by the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee and UNICEF Canada.

Each workshop will start with a panel of South Asian and Canadian presenters, include country case studies, then open to dialogue among participants.

Objectives of each workshop and the conference include:

1. Identify concerns and gaps within the NPA,
2. Identify priority areas for action in favour of children in South Asia,
3. Draft an early response to “A Canada Fit for Children” focusing on South Asian children and establish benchmarks for its implementation,
4. Increase understanding and knowledge of child rights issues in South Asia,
5. Outline a strategy to further engage and increase collaboration among Canadian NGOs working in South Asia.

A final plenary will draw the discussion and conclusions together into a final statement of recommendations and actions under the final theme of the Canada’s National Plan of Action, “Enabling social engagement and collaboration” in Canada and South Asia.

Participants

All are welcome to participate. The conference will be of particular interest to people and organizations engaged in:

• Children’s issues in Canada and the world
• South Asian economic and social development
• Health, education, or peace and security in Canada and the world
• Policy makers and practitioners in these fields
• Researchers, writers, activists, consultants.

If you cannot participate in person, why not join the Canada Fit for Children list-server?

Registration

Register on-line, by mail or fax.

Deadline for registration payment is August 28, 2004.

For all inquiries, please contact the Conference Organizer or 613-241-1333 ext. 223.