Evidence of meeting #18 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pandemic.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Can somebody talk about the squalid conditions in the detention camps in Syria, and what almost amounts to torture?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Please give just a brief answer, and we can always circle back in the form of asking witnesses to submit written testimony to us.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
If somebody wants to give a very brief answer on Syria, they can. Otherwise, we'll have to go ahead to the next questioner.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Let's leave it there, Dr. Fry. Thank you very much.
Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor for six minutes.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here and for sharing their insightful comments with our committee.
UNICEF has reported that at the height of the pandemic, 90% of students around the world were affected by school closures. Even in countries like ours, we have seen how much of an impact these closures have had on student motivation and academic achievement. We can only assume that things are even worse in countries facing much more difficult conditions with technology that lags behind, and where some students might be tempted to enter the workforce, while others might be recruited for human trafficking and prostitution, or even join the ranks of child soldiers.
UNICEF further reported that according to a world survey released in August, children were being exposed to a growing risk of violence, exploitation and abuse as a result of the pandemic.
We also received a few answers with respect to the sexual exploitation of children.
February 12 is International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, also known as Red Hand Day. Its objective is to gain support from governments to put an end to the recruitment of children as soldiers. According to the director of World Vision, the number of child soldiers has increased by 75% over the past 10 years.
Can the pandemic be assumed to have heightened, increased and intensified the recruitment of children as soldiers and for human trafficking networks?
Executive Director, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
Maybe Pernille can begin, and then I can add in.
Deputy Director, Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Thanks, Shelly. I'm happy to do so.
Mr. Bergeron, you're absolutely right that there is an intensification, but it's not only pandemic-related. It's also due to the nature of warfare, the increasing complexity of warfare that's been happening and the increasing disparities and inequities in the world that are driving the most vulnerable children to seek whatever avenues they may have at this time. I personally have met with many children who have actually felt that it's safer for them to join an armed group, where they can also have access to regular food and shelter and so forth, rather than be in the dire circumstances they have at home.
So to the extent that COVID is exacerbating those circumstances and drivers...noting that those are not voluntary. A child is under duress under such circumstances. It's very concerning for UNICEF that this is happening.
I'll hand it over to my colleague Shelly. I'm sure she will complement that further.
Executive Director, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
I think it's important to emphasize what Pernille is saying. The situation will be exacerbated by this pandemic. I think it's important to recognize our deep concern that the foot will be taken off the gas in terms of the positive efforts because money and attention will get diverted to other areas. I think that's important for us to not lose sight of.
The other thing I want to emphasize is there is a variety of reasons, as Pernille mentioned, why children join armed groups. They can be forcibly abducted, but that's only one very small part of it. For many, yes, there's safety, a sense of purpose, a sense of meaning and access to power. All of these dynamics are very important for us to think about in terms of our responses to the pandemic, making sure we are including this perspective of not losing sight of protecting children from exploitation, sexual exploitation, violence, abuse and so on.
Member of the Board of Directors, Beyond Borders ECPAT Canada
If I may just add something about sexual exploitation in particular, which you also asked about, there's a double problem here. One is there's increased vulnerability with the increased poverty, which leads to increased willingness to sell children for money. Also, many parents are killed through COVID, so there's decreased protection.
On the other hand, there's a weakening of the protective systems generally because money's being diverted to other purposes because of COVID. We have this double-barrelled problem.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
According to United Nations data, at least 14 countries around the world use children as soldiers. Ms. Fry referred earlier to the Vancouver principles. There is also the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which addresses the involvement of children in armed conflicts. Seventeen countries have neither signed nor ratified the protocol, and another 10 have signed, but not ratified, it.
With 14 United Nations member countries using children in their own armed forces or militias, is there any room for hope, or is it a lost cause?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
I'm sorry, Mr. Bergeron, but your speaking time is up. You may be able to get an answer to your question in the second round.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Might there be enough time for just a short answer, Mr. Chair?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
If you can give a very short answer, please go ahead. Otherwise it will have to wait until the next round.
Executive Director, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
We should never lose hope. Everything can always get better.
Executive Director, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
It's worth it to be hopeful for children.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you very much, Ms. Whitman.
Thank you very much, Mr. Bergeron.
The final six-minute round goes to Ms. McPherson.
Go ahead, please.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank all of our witnesses today. Certainly that last message of hope is one that I think we all need to hear repeatedly, especially when we hear about such horrific attacks on children.
I have a few questions I'd like to ask. I'll start with UNICEF, and then if others would like to add in, that would be great.
You mentioned the need for an integrated approach that breaks down silos in international aid, and prioritizes those facing intersecting vulnerabilities. How can Canada work to ensure that the most marginalized people on the ground receive the targeted support they need to get them through the pandemic, in a way that responds to their immediate intersecting needs but also aids in a more inclusive recovery?
Global Chief of Internal Communication, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
It's a very important question. I think what is needed is an integrated approach, or, to put it another way, a holistic approach, in which responses are provided with regard to every aspect of a child's well-being, whether it's health, whether it's nutrition, whether it's education, whether it's protection or even participation, affording them opportunities to participate in decisions that are affecting their lives.
We can't take a siloed approach to children's well-being. As we've just heard, if a protection system erodes, then children are increasingly likely to get married, or to be exploited or abused. If an education system erodes, as with what we're seeing right now with so many children not having access to education, they're increasingly vulnerable. If there is no access to adequate health services—and we're seeing immunization campaigns in many countries in the world actually being stunted as a result of COVID—then that affects children's ability to study in a healthy manner. The only way to address the full well-being of a child is to have a holistic approach in which there are responses in each of those social service areas.
In terms of addressing vulnerable populations, we need to look at the locations of those children in each country and then provide that holistic, integrated approach in those specific communities.
Executive Director, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
I'd just echo what UNICEF has said. I would also want to make it clear that I do think it's really important that when Canada is thinking of the areas in the countries, spaces and partners you work with, you look at the areas where children are the most vulnerable already, because armed conflict is also a priority area for us to focus on. Thanks.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thanks.
Mr. Matas, do you have anything to add to that?
Member of the Board of Directors, Beyond Borders ECPAT Canada
You were talking specifically about the most effective way to get aid or help for these people. The problem we're seeing right now is that a lot of services that were previously available are becoming underfunded because of COVID. Because of COVID, one could compensate for this local diversion or withdrawal of funding by perhaps filling in the gaps, so that these services can be maintained despite COVID.