UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - CRC
The CRC came into force in 1990 but not enough is being enforced and there are a few major problems with it.
CAMACA identifies 4 major problems that need to be rectified if the CRC is going to be fit for the 21st Century and for children to get the legal protections they need.
CAMACA recognizes the excellent work that UNICEF have done under the Convention and invites them to join with us in our Campaign on this.
The FIRST major problem with the CRC is that every Member of the United Nations has ratified the Convention EXCEPT the United States of America (plus a few tiny principalities who have no presence at the UN).
The USA have signed it, but have still not ratified it due to differences of opinion.
One of these differences are objections raised about Home Education, with Home-Schooling bodies arguing that the CRC threatens the principle of Home-Schooling.
CAMACA supports parents' rights to Home-School if they choose to - but surely this is one issue that can be waived around so the USA can finally ratify the Convention.
Many Nations who have signed and ratified the CRC have made declarations and reservations and the USA could do the same regarding Home-Schooling and have a specific opt-out on this issue.
It is a mistake that the most powerful nation has not ratified the CRC and it undermines the whole treaty.
It is way past time that the United States ratified the Convention that they have signed and endorsed elsewhere.
The SECOND major problem is the Inquiry Procedure.
The Inquiry Procedure is used for monitoring the implementation of the CRC in every member state.
Once a year the Committee on the Rights of the Child submits a report to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly and this allows the Assembly to monitor progress and adopt new resolutions put forward.
This report is dependent on the Inquiry Procedure which needs full access to every member state for the report to have any credibility.
UN Inspectors need access
The horrendous genocide that happened in Rwanda could have been prevented
The THIRD major problem is with the Optional Protocols.
The Optional Protocols were added to the Convention to try to improve protections for children everywhere.
Three have been added, the first two on the 25 May, 2000.
The first Optional Protocol was restricting the involvement of children in military conflicts.
Currently, 170 member states are party to that protocol, and another 10 member states have signed but not ratified it yet.
The second Optional Protocol prohibits the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. To date, 176 member states are party to that protocol, and another 7 member states have signed but not ratified it yet.
The USA, to their credit, have ratified both these protocols.
The Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City
The FOURTH major problem with the CRC is parental rights.
In October 2020, a vote on a draft resolution "Rights of the Child: Realizing the Rights of the Child through a healthy environment" which was submitted by Germany (on behalf of the EU), and Uruguay (on behalf of GRULAC) was passed and adopted.
The Russian Federation amendments to include parental rights in that resolution were presented and were entirely appropriate, but were rejected.
The Russian Federation argued that the absence of parental rights diminishes international responsibilities to provide a "healthy environment" for the child, especially concerning access to and having a good relationship with both parents.
Yet Uruguay argued that "parental rights language" would "bring imbalance" and would go against the 'Spirit of the Resolution'.
In Montevideo, Uruguay, on Apr 17, 2023, Reports that Child mistreatment and sexual abuse were increasing at an alarming rate was confirmed by Pablo Abdala, President of the Institute of Children and Adolescents of Uruguay (INAU). Uruguay is in a state of crisis about increasing child abuse and are in no position to preach values to anyone over children's rights.
CAMACA says stop playing politics and make the CRC fit for the 21st Century.
This Campaign in Summary
1. The United States of America to ratify the CRC in full with an opt-out on the issue of Home-Schooling.
2. The Inquiry Procedure 'opt-out' to be scrapped.
3. The first 2 Optional Protocols to be made compulsory.
4. Reasonable parental rights to be added to the CRC.
CAMACA identifies 4 major problems that need to be rectified if the CRC is going to be fit for the 21st Century and for children to get the legal protections they need.
CAMACA recognizes the excellent work that UNICEF have done under the Convention and invites them to join with us in our Campaign on this.
The FIRST major problem with the CRC is that every Member of the United Nations has ratified the Convention EXCEPT the United States of America (plus a few tiny principalities who have no presence at the UN).
The USA have signed it, but have still not ratified it due to differences of opinion.
One of these differences are objections raised about Home Education, with Home-Schooling bodies arguing that the CRC threatens the principle of Home-Schooling.
CAMACA supports parents' rights to Home-School if they choose to - but surely this is one issue that can be waived around so the USA can finally ratify the Convention.
Many Nations who have signed and ratified the CRC have made declarations and reservations and the USA could do the same regarding Home-Schooling and have a specific opt-out on this issue.
It is a mistake that the most powerful nation has not ratified the CRC and it undermines the whole treaty.
It is way past time that the United States ratified the Convention that they have signed and endorsed elsewhere.
The World needs the USA on board with the CRC
The SECOND major problem is the Inquiry Procedure.
The Inquiry Procedure is used for monitoring the implementation of the CRC in every member state.
Once a year the Committee on the Rights of the Child submits a report to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly and this allows the Assembly to monitor progress and adopt new resolutions put forward.
This report is dependent on the Inquiry Procedure which needs full access to every member state for the report to have any credibility.
UN Inspectors need access
But, remarkably, any member state can 'opt-out' of the Inquiry Procedure when 'accession' happens - a new regime - which makes a mockery of the report and is a license for any member state to hide abuses and atrocities against children during those times.
This is what happened in Rwanda in 1994 where the new Hutu-led regime denied access to UN inspectors to investigate exactly what was going on there.
Enough reports were coming out that a genocide was going on, even against children, but the UN couldn't intervene early enough to stop it.
The 'opt-out' from the Inquiry Procedure has to END and every member state should be bound by the Inquiry Procedure at all times.
This is what happened in Rwanda in 1994 where the new Hutu-led regime denied access to UN inspectors to investigate exactly what was going on there.
Enough reports were coming out that a genocide was going on, even against children, but the UN couldn't intervene early enough to stop it.
The 'opt-out' from the Inquiry Procedure has to END and every member state should be bound by the Inquiry Procedure at all times.
The horrendous genocide that happened in Rwanda could have been prevented
The THIRD major problem is with the Optional Protocols.
The Optional Protocols were added to the Convention to try to improve protections for children everywhere.
Three have been added, the first two on the 25 May, 2000.
The first Optional Protocol was restricting the involvement of children in military conflicts.
Currently, 170 member states are party to that protocol, and another 10 member states have signed but not ratified it yet.
The second Optional Protocol prohibits the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. To date, 176 member states are party to that protocol, and another 7 member states have signed but not ratified it yet.
The USA, to their credit, have ratified both these protocols.
A third Optional Protocol, concerning Communications Procedure, allows children or their representatives to file individual complaints for violation of the rights of children, and was adopted in December 2011 and opened for signature on 28 February 2012.
This protocol currently has 51 signatures and 46 ratifications and it entered into force on 14 April 2014.
CAMACA says that the first 2 protocols should not be 'Optional' but COMPULSORY - for every member state - especially the 2nd Protocol banning the sale and prostitution of children, and child pornography.
These are the worst forms of abuse and without this protocol being compulsory the CRC risks creating havens for abuse.
This protocol currently has 51 signatures and 46 ratifications and it entered into force on 14 April 2014.
CAMACA says that the first 2 protocols should not be 'Optional' but COMPULSORY - for every member state - especially the 2nd Protocol banning the sale and prostitution of children, and child pornography.
These are the worst forms of abuse and without this protocol being compulsory the CRC risks creating havens for abuse.
The Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City
The FOURTH major problem with the CRC is parental rights.
In October 2020, a vote on a draft resolution "Rights of the Child: Realizing the Rights of the Child through a healthy environment" which was submitted by Germany (on behalf of the EU), and Uruguay (on behalf of GRULAC) was passed and adopted.
The Russian Federation amendments to include parental rights in that resolution were presented and were entirely appropriate, but were rejected.
The Russian Federation argued that the absence of parental rights diminishes international responsibilities to provide a "healthy environment" for the child, especially concerning access to and having a good relationship with both parents.
Yet Uruguay argued that "parental rights language" would "bring imbalance" and would go against the 'Spirit of the Resolution'.
In Montevideo, Uruguay, on Apr 17, 2023, Reports that Child mistreatment and sexual abuse were increasing at an alarming rate was confirmed by Pablo Abdala, President of the Institute of Children and Adolescents of Uruguay (INAU). Uruguay is in a state of crisis about increasing child abuse and are in no position to preach values to anyone over children's rights.
The assertion that parental rights interferes with children's rights directly contravenes the CRC, which references parents and their rights repeatedly - and it's ironic that the RF amendments were sourced word for word from the Convention itself.
Uruguay's argument is simply absurd and the Russian Federation amendments are absolutely right and need to be added to this latest resolution.
Parental rights go hand in hand with their children's rights and rarely conflict with each other and when they do, common sense and balance is applied.
Uruguay's argument is simply absurd and the Russian Federation amendments are absolutely right and need to be added to this latest resolution.
Parental rights go hand in hand with their children's rights and rarely conflict with each other and when they do, common sense and balance is applied.
This was nothing to do with the actual rights of children but about defeating and embarrassing the source of the amendments which in this case was the Russian Federation.
The fact the vote on it went so easily against the RF amendments shows how political the proceedings at the UN often are, which happened before the Ukraine invasion.
Children need their parents to have parental rights too and every sensible person knows that.
CAMACA knows that this is a long haul Campaign, but we need to fix these major problems if we want the CRC to be truly effective in the 21st Century.
The fact the vote on it went so easily against the RF amendments shows how political the proceedings at the UN often are, which happened before the Ukraine invasion.
Children need their parents to have parental rights too and every sensible person knows that.
CAMACA knows that this is a long haul Campaign, but we need to fix these major problems if we want the CRC to be truly effective in the 21st Century.
CAMACA says stop playing politics and make the CRC fit for the 21st Century.
This Campaign in Summary
1. The United States of America to ratify the CRC in full with an opt-out on the issue of Home-Schooling.
2. The Inquiry Procedure 'opt-out' to be scrapped.
3. The first 2 Optional Protocols to be made compulsory.
4. Reasonable parental rights to be added to the CRC.
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