All children in Canada are protected from all forms of violence through the Criminal Code , which is a federal law that applies across Canada. The Criminal Code contains general criminal offences to protect all persons from violence, and a number of offences that specifically protect children. These offences include failure to provide the necessaries of life, child abandonment and a number of child-specific sexual offences.
Also, when an offence is committed against a child, a court must treat this as an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes which means that the crime is treated more seriously and can result in a longer sentence. In addition to protections under the Criminal Code , every province and territory has laws to protect children from family violence and abuse.
These laws allow the state to take action where a child is in need of protection from physical, emotional and psychological harm or neglect. Many provinces and territories also have laws and policies that prohibit the use of physical punishment of children in foster homes, childcare settings such as daycares, as well as in schools. It is a crime to assault or threaten to assault someone, no matter their age.
Assault is very broadly defined in Canadian criminal law to include any intentional use of force on another person without their consent. This includes any non-consensual touching, directly or indirectly, of a person regardless of the amount of force used.
Slapping, shaking, punching, pinching, kicking, or any other form of unwanted touching are all examples of actions that may be considered to be an assault. It is also a crime to unlawfully confine a person against their will, for example by restraining them or restricting their movement, either physically or by controlling conduct, such as through fear, intimidation or other similar psychological means.
