Manitoba

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth is an independent office of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly. We are here to represent the rights, interests and viewpoints of children, youth, and young adults throughout Manitoba who are receiving, or should be receiving services from: child and family, adoption, mental health, addiction, education, disability, justice, and victim support (incl. for young people who are witnesses in criminal proceedings and any young person impacted by domestic violence or sexual exploitation).

We advocate directly with children, youth, and young adults; we review public services after the death of any young person if that person or their family received a reviewable service in the year before the death of the young person; we conduct research on issues affecting Manitoba’s young people; and we monitor, analyze, and report publicly on the compliance of public systems and service providers with recommendations the Advocate for Children and Youth makes for improving services to young people and their families in Manitoba.

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth is empowered by legislation to advise children, youth, and young adults of their rights and the services which should be available to them. The Advocate also has the responsibility to raise issues with government on behalf of the province’s children, and to advise the government on issues and areas of concern.

We also promote The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This guiding document, which Canada ratified in 1991, describes more than 40 central human rights specific to children.

Being independent means that we are separate and apart from government and that the Advocate for Children and Youth is not part of any government department.