Alberta Human Rights Violations

Introduction
Throughout our studies we have discussed the various human rights violations that have occurred historically. Though at times disheartening and discouraging to learn about crimes against humanity, we have also learnt that it is important to continue advocating for the oppressed and to not abandon all attempts at changing these human rights violations simply because it feels as though we will never make a difference. In Tim Wise’s article (1999) he expresses similar feelings of discouragement and impossibilism (Gervais, personal communication, December 9, 2015). Yet, the letter he received from Archbishop Desmond Tutu was most revealing, stating that we do not study and do these things “because they will ultimately prove successful.
This movement held the belief that these harms were biologically inherited and determined rather than issues relating to the political, societal and economic conditions of the time. In 1928, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta passed the Sexual Sterilization Act. In an effort to improve the human race and discontinue traits that were considered undesirable, the act allowed for the sterilization of specific individuals. It was widely believed that people suffering from mental illnesses and disorders had a much higher reproduction rate than the general population, and as a result the act was enacted to ensure the gene pool in Alberta would strengthen instead of
As such, the state itself holds the responsibility of ensuring to respect children and their rights, especially in times of war or other hostilities such as statelessness, sweatshop employment, and sterilization laws (Falchetta, 2014, p. 191). Yet, it is important to not dismiss the incredible resilience victimized children have shown, as well as their capacity for healing and restitution whether it be through developing agency and self-worth in practicing therapeutic dance, music, and creative writing or by seeking justice through the court system like Leilani Muir did as an adult (The Sterilization of Leilani Muir, 1996; Harris, 2010, p.