Poste - Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children

C A N A D I A N C O A L I T I O N F O R T H E R I G H T S O F C H I L D R E N
PROTOCOL: Disaggregate data by
populations.
Finding: It is easy to list populations that should be
reported on but often difficult to find any information to
report. However, the protocol sets a standard.
PROTOCOL: Identify trends.
Finding: This protocol was particularly helpful when
evaluating.
PROTOCOL: Fully document and
verify the research process.
Finding: Information was fully sourced. All quotations
were verified. Every effort was made to find current data
and pre-1991 information was only presented in
exceptional circumstances, such as precedent-setting case
law. For every publication cited in the bibliography, a
search was conducted for a translated version (French or
English) and existing translations were used.
Human Resources
• Monitoring the Convention on the Rights of the Child
is an extremely complex task requiring skilled
researchers and a network of experts and reviewers.
Monitoring should be conducted through a permanent
monitoring mechanism and not on a short-term project
basis.
* “Children” has been used throughout to refer to people under 18 years of age.
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• A national working forum of 75 experts launched this
monitoring project. This forum was instrumental in
finalizing the protocols of the permanent monitoring
mechanism and in reviewing the first draft of key
questions.
• The time required for research, review, revision,
summarizing, evaluating and building consensus was
consistently underestimated. While an impressive
number of experts and organizations participated in the
project (see addendum), the consultation process
needed more structure and realistic time frames. With
a permanent monitoring mechanism, a sustainable
national research structure could be developed to
provide ongoing support and advice.
• Evaluation task groups were limited to five members,
including at least one child. In hindsight, criteria for
task group membership should have ensured a mix of
advocates, researchers and policy makers.
• Children* participated throughout the monitoring
project. They reviewed the key questions, helped
develop research questionnaires, selected material for
the children’s workshop kit, participated in the
national working forum, reviewed research papers and
were members of evaluation working groups. Many
organizations were enlisted to collect children’s
“voices” with regard to the six research areas.
Unfortunately, no submissions were received from
younger children and the project did not have the
resources to pursue this further. If a permanent
monitoring mechanism was in place, processes could
be structured to better ensure the participation of
children of various ages and in all research areas.