Who do your kids belong to?
And who gets to decide the ‘best interest of the child’?
by Pinedale Online
April 9, 2013
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) posted an article on Tuesday, April 9th, discussing the renewed media attention to have the United States Senate ratify the international treaty known as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In their article, they say "HSLDA steadfastly opposed this treaty then—and still does today—recognizing that it threatens to impose the state between parents and children." The HSLDA feels the treaty is a threat to the future of homeschooling freedom. The US has refused to ratify the treaty since 1995. Click here to read the HSLDA article: Do Our Kids Belong to Us—or to the Community?
Background
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international human rights treaty setting out civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children under the age of 18. Nations that ratify this convention are bound to it by international law with compliance monitored by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is composed of members from countries around the world. Governments of countries that have ratified the Convention are required to report to, and appear before, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child periodically to be examined on their progress with regards to the advancement of the implementation of the Convention and the status of child rights in their country. In many jurisdictions, properly implementing the Convention requires a significant restructuring of child custody and guardianship laws. Currently 193 countries have ratified, accepted, or acceded to it including every member of the United Nations except Somalia, and the United States. The US signed it on February 16, 1995, but has not ratified it in the Senate, and will not be able to unless US laws are significantly changed because the Convention forbids both death sentences and life imprisonment for children. Opponents argue the treaty would take away parental rights, changing who children belong to, parents or the government.
Related Links:
Convention on the Rights of the Child Wikipedia
THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD - The Most Dangerous Attack on Parental Rights in the History of the United States Home School Legal Defense Association (March 2007)
Rights of the Child United Nations
Status of signators United Nations
Childs Rights International Network
Canada’s perspective of the US position on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
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