4. The Right to Privacy "Every child has the right to peace and quiet and have their own privacy from different people who bother you or from the Internet."

Diane Myers, Executive Director of the Family Education Centre presented the Right to Privacy to Peel Regional Council. As the mother of 6 children, including quadruplets, Ms. Myers understands the importance of both respecting and protecting the privacy of children, both at home and in the public arena.

Beginning her presentation with the most “devastating breach of the child’s right to privacy,” Myers touched on the heartbreaking story of the Dionne Quintuplets, explaining that once these exploited children were old enough to demand their own decision making power, they became extremely private citizens. Ms. Myers also shared some of her own family’s experiences in dealing with intrusive media to protect the privacy of her quadruplets, who are now 18 years old.

Peel councillors heard about the importance of giving young children boundaries to help them learn about respect for the belongings and private time of others, and that it is important for adults to model respect for  privacy.

Abuse of social media and cyber bullying are other ways children’s privacy can infringed upon. Children must understand how much they can hurt another person by posting negative comments, pictures or personal information on the Internet. While emerging technologies clearly offer valuable advantages, efficiencies and conveniences, it is important to remember that privacy should be of the uptmost concern.

The Dionne quintuplets experienced a childhood in front of the public eye and away from their family. Once they were old enough to be allowed to make decisions for themselves they each became very private citizens. Dionne quintuplets and Ontario premier M.F. Hepburn, 1935 CBC, National Archives of Canada, C19533		A survey of 2000 Toronto high school students showed that 21 per cent of students surveyed said that they had been bullied online recently. Thirty-five per cent said that they had bullied others, and 28 per cent had seen online bullying taking place. Globe and Mail

Read a Globe and Mail story on cyber bullying.

Read the presentation speaking notes