Resolution - 04.05
End Trafficking of Children

Submitted by: B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council

Whereas, Canada has committed to the Stockholm Declaration of the 1st World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (1996) to work against the commercial sexual exploitation of children and has signed the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (November 10, 2001); and

Whereas, Canada is being used as a destination and transit point for children who are being bought and sold on the international market for the sex trade even though the 2004 Trafficking in Persons Report places Canada in Tier 1 with monitored countries who fully comply with minimum standards; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the national council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, in 84th annual national convention assembled, urge the federal government to

• develop, implement and monitor a comprehensive, coordinated national plan of action to be adopted as national policy as called for by the Stockholm Declaration of the 1st World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
  
• ratify the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography which was signed November 10, 2001.

Requested Members' Action:

1. Write letters to the federal ministers of international cooperation, foreign affairs, justice and health; send a copy of your letter to your local member of parliament and the prime minister.

2. Monitor the federal government's plan of action to address trafficking of children.

3. Monitor the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child protitution and child pornography to note when ratification occurs; commend the federal government after ratification.

4. Monitor media reports regarding the federal government's efforts to stop trafficking.