The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 by a unanimous vote and was instituted as international law in 1990. The purpose behind drafting the CRC was to promote and protect all children worldwide. Today, 193 countries are parties to the CRC; The United States, along with Somalia, remain the only two United Nations parties who have not ratified.

The CRC compels state parties to prioritize childhood by setting forth basic standards that the parties agree to uphold. The CRC lays out four basic principles: the right to survival; the right to develop to the fullest potential; the right to protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and the right to participate in family, cultural, and social life. State parties agree to provide support and assistance to parents as they fulfill their child-rearing responsibilities within the framework of these four basic themes.

• The full text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is available through the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.
• Additional information on the CRC can be accessed through UNICEF or www.childrightscampaign.org.

Action Alert
In anticipation of the treaty’s 20th anniversary, the Bahá’ís of the United States join the Campaign for the U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in calling on college and university students to participate in a National Briefing Day on Nov. 20, 2009, by organizing an event on or around that day with the purpose of educating and raising awareness about the CRC treaty and the potential benefits of the United States ratifying it.

• Download the resource kit to get started planning your campus briefing event.

Additional questions can be directed to Gleibys Buchanan at the Office of External Affairs: BahaisUS@usbnc.org.