I am in Washington, DC today at the NAEYC Annual Conference, celebrating Universal Children’s Day and the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Instituted as international law in 1990, CRC is recognized as the first legally-binding international human rights treaty for children. Among other things, CRC protects children’s right to an education, to nutritious food, to health care and from abuse. A child’s right to play is even protected.
As of today, 194 countries have ratified the CRC. Somalia just joined the list. Guess what country is not on the list…The United States of America. The United States is the only party to the UN that has not ratified this momentous agreement. “Embarrassing” is how Obama has described the situation. And now that Somalia has beat us to ratification, it is more than embarrassing. It is criminal.
To find out more and how to get involved, visit http://childrightscampaign.org. Consider doing it today as a way to honor Universal Children’s Day.
