September 14, 2005
No. 163
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Irwin Cotler today announced that Canada has ratified the United Nations’ Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child
Prostitution and Child Pornography. The ratification took place earlier today in New
York on the margins of the UN 2005 World Summit.
“By ratifying the Optional Protocol, we are reaffirming the commitment we made at the
2002 UN General Assembly’s Special Session on Children,” said Minister Pettigrew.
“The ratification also signals Canada’s ongoing resolve to work with the international
community on the protection of children. We encourage other states to sign and ratify
the Optional Protocol.”
“The protection of children is an overriding priority and principle for us,” stated Minister
Cotler. “It does not stop with our commitments arising from the ratification of the
Protocol. We will continue to combat the exploitation of our children—the most
vulnerable of the vulnerable—as reflected in two recent legislative initiatives, one
relating to the protection of children from all forms of violence and abuse, and the other
relating to trafficking in persons.”
The Optional Protocol requires States parties to prohibit child prostitution, child
pornography and the sale of children through criminal or penal legislation; to enhance
international cooperation; to seize and confiscate goods used in the commission of
these offences; to develop related public awareness measures; and to implement
measures for the rehabilitation of child victims of these offences. Canada has complied
with all binding obligations imposed on States parties, addressing these obligations
through legislation, programs and policies within federal, provincial and territorial
jurisdiction. This includes comprehensive Criminal Code prohibitions protecting children
from abduction, kidnapping, abuse and sexual exploitation including child pornography
and child prostitution.
The Optional Protocol was adopted by the UN General Assembly on May 25, 2000, and
entered into force on January 18, 2002.
As of September 1, 2005, there were 99 states party to the Optional Protocol.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
(613) 957-4207
http://www.justice.gc.ca
