Just Children

Just Children was developed by the Law Commission of Canada as part of its study of historical institutional child abuse. The video tells the story of people who suffered abuse as children in institutions across Canada. It also introduces a discussion of how to meet the needs of those who were harmed. Over the past ten to fifteen years, child abuse has surfaced as a painful issue for Canadians. With greater public discussion has come greater awareness that children have been abused not only in their homes and by strangers, but also in institutions where they were placed for their education, welfare, rehabilitation or even protection. Many of these institutions were run by or on behalf of federal, provincial and territorial governments. Children do not choose to live in institutions. Societies plan and establish institutions for children with a beneficial purpose in mind: the fact remains that many children were harmed terribly by abuse they suffered while resident in institutions. This is the undeniable tragedy that underlies the Commission's report entitled: Restoring Dignity: Responding to Child Abuse in Canadian Institutions.