REPORT TO COUNCIL

FAMILY COURT/YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE

November 12, 1998

RECOMMENDATION

1. Civic Youth Strategy Progress Report Files: 4102/3118

The Vancouver Family Court/Youth Justice Committee is appointed by City Council under the auspices of the Provincial Court Act and the Young Offenders Act. The Committee's mandate is to examine services in the community for families and children, young offenders and youth at risk.

The Committee reviewed an earlier draft of the Child and Youth Advocate's recommendations contained in the Administrative Report dated November 3, 1998, and is pleased to convey its full support for the intent of these recommendations. The Committee also wishes to comment specifically on those recommendations falling within its mandate.

Council is aware that the problem of sexual exploitation of children by the sex trade has been one of the Committee's priorities this year. For Council's information, the Committee is pursuing three actions regarding the sexual exploitation of children (in order of priority):

(1)raise public awareness of this issue as outright child abuse, rather than the misperception that these are young criminals who have chosen their lifestyle;

(2)focus on lack of availability of drug addiction treatment resources and follow-up support for young people;

(3)promote funding for agencies which provide young people with an alternative to the street.

Cont’d

Clause No. 1 (cont’d)

Recommendations B, E, G and H have a particular relevance to the issue of sexual exploitation of children, and we urge Council to approve them. Available late-nightactivities for young people provide them with alternatives to the street, where sexual predators await them. Youth lacking jobs or housing are more vulnerable to recruitment

by the sex trade, as are young people with substance abuse problems who need money to

support their habits. We have heard of too many cases of young people wanting to get off drugs, who were frustrated by the lack of detox or follow-up services.

We also urge Council to approve Recommendation C. When the Committee last hosted the Provincial Conference of Family Court and Youth Justice Committees, youth were encouraged to attend, with free admission and modest honoraria to presenters. The turnout was excellent, and the young people contributed greatly to the conference. Similarly, the recent Forum on Street-Involved Youth Issues confirmed the value of giving youth a voice.

Therefore, the Committee

RECOMMENDS

THAT City Council approve Recommendations B, C, E, G and H, as set out in the Administrative Report dated November 3, 1998.

"Signed"

Jim Siemens, Co-Chair

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS:

The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver