Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Rights for all
Canada does not tolerate abuse
In Canada, abuse is a very serious offence. Violence toward any person—man, woman or child—is against the law. No one has the right to hit or threaten people or to force them into sexual activities. The law applies no matter who the person is—wife or husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend, parent, another relative or a stranger.
Parents are required by law to take proper care of their children and guardians of the sick or elderly must take proper care of those in their care. Police, doctors, teachers and children’s aid officials will act when a child, spouse, or sick/elderly person is being abused.
In serious cases of abuse, officials may take away children in danger or help a spouse or sick or elderly person who is in danger.
Women have rights
In Canada, men and women are equal. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that they have the same rights. Discrimination against women—which includes unjust treatment—and violence toward women are both against the law. Women who are abused by their husbands can find help for themselves and their children in community shelters. These women may also get legal protection to keep them safe.
Information on shelters and legal rights can be found near the front of your telephone book under Distress Centres, Child Abuse and Sexual Assault.
Children have rights
By law, parents in Canada must provide their children with the things they need to be healthy in their lives until they reach age 16. It is against the law in Canada to abuse children, either physically, psychologically or sexually. In Canada, abuse can mean many things: any form of harm, neglect or poor treatment.
This can include spanking children enough to cause bruises, terrorizing or humiliating them, any kind of sexual contact, neglect and female circumcision. All forms of child abuse are serious crimes. Police, doctors, teachers and children’s aid workers will take action, such as calling police, if they think children are being harmed. In serious cases of abuse, children will be taken away from their parents and placed in a new home.
Senior citizens have rights
In Canada, a senior citizen is someone aged 65 or older. Unfortunately, between four and 10 percent of seniors are subject to some kind of abuse. This is called elder abuse. Elder abuse is not tolerated in Canada.
Learn more about elder abuse and senior citizens in Canada.
Qualified senior citizens in Canada receive money from the federal government to help them live.
Language rights
Under the Official Languages Act, Canada is an officially bilingual country. This means that Canadians have the right to receive services from the federal government in English or French. Some provinces, territories and city governments offer bilingual service, but many do not. New Brunswick is the only province that is officially bilingual.
