2007:07 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES
Whereas 1
Canada ratified and is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which requires that the best interest of children, their well-being, and healthy development be a primary consideration in all decisions that affect children;
and,
Whereas 2
The rights of protection, for example, the right to be protected from abuse and neglect, is a category of rights under this document, and Article 17 recognizes “the important function performed by the mass media,” and calls on those governments who have signed and ratified the Convention to encourage the media “to disseminate information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child,” and calls on governments to encourage the development of guidelines to protect children from harmful material;
and,
Whereas 3
Bullying and other violence among and by young people is increasing in intensity;
and,
Whereas 4
The convergence of media platforms and availability of wireless and handheld communication technologies are challenging former protection strategies such as “watershed hours” and “putting the TV in a well-trafficked area of the home”;
and,
Whereas 5
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), since its 1999 Report on New Media, has not regulated new media activities on the internet (including websites and video games) under the Broadcasting Act;
therefore, be it
Resolved 1
That the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that the Government of Canada implement the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) by protecting children from violent video games;
and be it further
Resolved 2
That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada, in cooperation with the provinces and territories, to implement the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) by:
a. Enacting legislation that will support the social and emotional development of Canadian children by providing and ensuring that policies and standards to control the rental and sale of violent video games in Canada are enforced;
b. Establishing commissions for further research and offering appropriate education programs;
c. Launching a concentrated adults and children media education and awareness campaign to parents across the country for the protection of young people under the age of 18 years from the use of realistically violent video games;
and be it further
Resolved 3
That the National Council of Women of Canada urge its Provincial and Local Councils of Women to urge their respective governments to launch a concentrated media education campaign for adults and children to make them aware of the dangers of violent video games and to provide appropriate educational programs in school systems.