The Rights and Realities of War-affected Refugee Children and Youth in Quebec: Making Children's Rights Meaningful

Each year, thousands of children enter Canada, fleeing from countries where there has been armed conflict. In Quebec alone, between 1998 and 2007, 8 of the top 10 source countries for accepted refugees were war-affected nations, representing 34,838 people, including children. Yet, this group has been largely overlooked in Canadian research, policy and service provision. This paper traces the lived realities and resettlement experiences of a sample of war-affected children and youth living in Quebec who arrived accompanied by a parent or caregiver, alone as refugees, or without documented legal status, seeking asylum. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with 22 war-affected youth, the paper considers youth's perspectives on the lasting war-related distress experienced in Canada. The paper critically identifies the impact of the UNCRC on their lives in their countries of origin, in their resettlement to Canada, as well as Canada's role and obligations in meeting the needs and rights of this unique population. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for policy and practice, particularly with regard to envisioning ways of better meeting the rights of war-affected children.