Vision and purpose
No Violence for Kids in Canada is a public education and advocacy initiative dedicated to ending the legal and cultural sanctioning of violence against children in Canada. The group calls for the full repeal of Section 43 of the Criminal Code, in order to fulfil, Call to Action 6 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and affirm every child’s right to safety, dignity, and bodily autonomy. Their vision is simple and powerful: a Canada where no child is hit—at home, at school, or under colour of law.
What they do
- Raise public awareness about Section 43 and its harmful impact on children, especially those who are Indigenous, disabled, or otherwise marginalised.
- Advocate for federal legislation to repeal Section 43 and eliminate the defence of “reasonable force” in cases of child assault.
- Frame physical punishment as a human rights issue, using clear and accessible messaging to shift public norms.
- Align their work with theTruth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 6, which calls on governments to eliminate laws that justify or excuse violence against Indigenous children.
Key features
- Section 43 permits parents, caregivers, and teachers to use physical force for “correction,” as long as it is deemed “reasonable.”
- Canada’s Supreme Court upheld Section 43 in 2004, but with limits—those limits remain vague, contested, and harmful.
- The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and many Canadian advocates have called for repeal, citing children’s right to protection from violence.
- Repealing Section 43 would bring Canada into compliance with international human rights standards and affirm children’s full personhood under law.
Impact and benefits
- Repeal would remove a legal loophole that allows the hitting of children while criminalising similar violence against adults.
- Ending legal defences for corporal punishment helps shift social norms toward non-violent parenting and trauma-informed care.
- Indigenous children—who are overrepresented in child welfare, education discipline, and youth justice systems—would benefit from reforms that affirm their right to safety and freedom from institutional harm.
- Aligning Canadian law with Call to Action 6 strengthens the broader movement toward reconciliation and accountability for past and present abuses.
How to engage
- Follow No Violence for Kids in Canada on Facebook to stay informed and amplify their calls to action.
- Share information about Section 43 and Call to Action 6 with your networks, school communities, and elected representatives.
- Include repeal of Section 43 in your own advocacy efforts for education reform, child welfare, and disability justice.
- Support aligned bills and petitions that push Parliament to eliminate Section 43 and affirm a violence-free future for all children.
- Also see posts on this website, related to Truth and Reconciliation.
