“Inuit children and families do not receive the social services and youth protection services to which they are entitled,” estimates the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights, which speaks of a “critical situation » and which calls on the government of Quebec to put an end to the many problems that persist over time.
In 2007, the Commission carried out a systemic investigation into youth protection services in Nunavik. In her report, she “sounded the alarm about the urgency of acting in the face of the immense distress in which the children found themselves”.
However, 15 years later, “the Commission notes that several issues identified in the 2007 survey are still relevant, although several structuring actions have since been undertaken by the stakeholders”, we can read in a new report published Friday.
Housing shortage and overcrowding, difficult living conditions, exorbitant cost of the grocery basket, intergenerational trauma, problems with the supply of drinking water… Socio-economic conditions in Nunavik communities are detrimental to the well-being of children, note the authors of the report.
North of 55e At the same time, one child in five is taken care of by youth protection services, a rate more than six times higher than that of the rest of Quebec. “The risk factors predisposing to youth protection intervention are ten times greater than elsewhere in Quebec,” they add. The extent of social deprivation exerts disproportionate pressure on the service and support capacity of existing organizational structures. »
The Commission insists on “the need to act urgently on the social factors at the source of situations of violations of the rights of Inuit children”.
Labor shortage and turnover
Labor shortages, staff turnover and the under-representation of Inuit staff further complicate the situation. Thus, according to the figures obtained by the Commission, Nunavik operates with less than 50% of its youth protection staff.
This situation causes “perpetual service breakdowns”, notes the Commission. It also creates “excessive delays in evaluating reports” and “deprives families of the services they need to ensure the development of their children.”
This has a direct impact on young people. “As part of investigations into the situations of two young people who committed suicide, the Commission was able to note that in the months preceding their death, these young people did not receive any service for the application of the measures, and this, despite the seriousness of the events which had led the DPJ to declare that their situations were compromised. »
Just as in 2007, the Commission calls for the “mobilization of all stakeholders to guarantee the protection of children, while respecting Inuit concepts of family well-being.” “However, until now, projects that would make it possible to act in this direction have been slow to materialize in Nunavik,” deplores the Commission, which also urges the Quebec government to “act without further delay” on three themes in particular, in due to the “seriousness of the situation”.
We must, first of all, “rethink youth services based on the realities of Inuit children and their families,” indicates the Commission, which makes several concrete recommendations to this effect. We must also meet labor needs in social services and thirdly, provide housing that meets the needs of children and their families.