The possible excision of a two-year-old girl and the supposed refusal of the Department of Youth Protection (DPJ) to investigate led to two interventions by the authorities on Thursday. The Commission for Human Rights and Youth Rights (CDPDJ) has opened an investigation on its own initiative, and the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, has assured that the girl will be assessed by the DPJ.
The case of the child was revealed on Wednesday by the daily The gallery. He reported that an educator from a Childcare Center (CPE) in the greater Quebec City region had noticed, while changing the child’s diaper, that her anatomy was unusual, and that she seemed to have undergone genital mutilation. With her director, she would have contacted the DPJ, who would have replied that the case was too delicate to open an investigation.
The CDPDJ indicates that it was alerted by the media to this case. She therefore decided to look into this situation, in particular because of “the inaction of the Department of Youth Protection”, which had received the report.
Her investigation will aim to determine if the facts that are reported are true and if the rights of this girl have been respected or not, she said.
Thursday, Minister Lionel Carmant, also responsible for youth protection services, was questioned in the National Assembly by the solidarity deputy Christine Labrie.
The minister said he was very concerned and described the situation as unacceptable: “Yesterday morning [mercredi], I called the National Director of Youth Protection and told her to intervene. »
On the same day, he was assured that the child would be assessed and things would take their course, “as it should have been done from the start”, he added.
MP Labrie tarnished in passing the balance sheet of the CAQ government, noting that the minister had welcomed earlier this week the decrease in the number of reports to the DPJ.
“When cases like this end up in the report not retained, I do not call that a success. When the DPJ does not feel that it has the expertise to intervene in a situation that involves the physical integrity of a child, we have a big problem, ”laughed M.me Labrie.
The DPJ called into question
According to the Commission, the CPE did exactly what it had to do by contacting the DYP.
Section 39 of the Youth Protection Act provides that any professional who provides care to children and who has reasonable cause to believe that the security or development of a child is or may be considered to be in danger ” is required to report the situation without delay” to the DYP.
“The protection of children must be everyone’s business”, insists the CDPDJ.
Female circumcision and any other form of genital mutilation are prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada, which considers them an aggravated assault causing bodily harm. Such an act is punishable by a maximum of 14 years in prison.
“Having reason to believe in lesions of rights”, the CDPDJ will investigate, in particular to ensure “that measures are taken so that such a situation does not happen again”.
In her press release, she recalls that her investigation is not public, but that she could reveal her conclusions and recommendations. The Commission has launched other investigations in the past without having received a report, based on facts reported in the media.
Contacted on this subject, the CIUSSS of the Capitale-Nationale maintains that it cannot comment on specific cases. However, he adds that he must “ensure that the care and services provided are exemplary”.
For this reason, if a situation reveals shortcomings, he has the responsibility to intervene and quickly take the necessary corrective measures, he indicates.