CBS News’ Political Hotsheet has an article about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:

31 GOP Senators Oppose U.N. Children’s Rights Convention
by Brian Montopoli – 36 comments

Thirty-one Republican senators are cosponsoring a resolution opposing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to the conservative group ParentalRights.org, which is pushing the resolution.

The resolution, which you can read here, states that the convention “undermines traditional principles” of U.S. law and calls efforts to sign on to the treaty “contrary to principles of self-government and federalism.” It says the convention should not be put before the Senate for a vote.

As Mother Jones reports, the legally-binding U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child was issued in 1989 to establish rights across country lines for citizens under the age of 18. The only members of the U.N. not to have signed on are the U.S. and Somalia, though the latter plans to ratify it this year.

American conservatives have long opposed ratification out of fear that it will impinge on their right to raise their children as they see fit. Among the complaints on the ParentalRights.org website, which is led by homeschooling advocate Michael Farris, is that under the treaty parents “would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings” to their kids.

Continue reading this article at the link above, and note the lengthy and informative comments at the end of the article.

Homeschooling parents hear much about parental rights from homschooling organizations, and how the ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child will be used against them in their homes. What we usually don’t hear is what the people in favor of the Convention think about that opposition.

The following linked PDF file gives an overview (minus the workshop that went with it) from the point of view of people in favor of the Convention.

I find it hard to be either 100% in favor of the Convention (because legislation can go in strange directions), or 100% against the Convention (because there are practices concerning children that I think need to change). But isn’t that the way it usually goes?

This overview includes the “non-self-executing treaties” referred to earlier.

Mobilizing Communities for Ratification, 18 – 20 May 2006

Why is the United States one of only two nations in the entire world that has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Who would oppose a treaty designed to protect children? This workshop will try to answer those questions by delving into the popular and political arguments made against U.S. ratification of the CRC. Panelists will describe the opposition and provide examples of the rhetoric used to discredit the Convention. In addition, panelists will discuss possible legal and political responses to opposition arguments.

Opposition to the Convention on the Rights of the Child — Exploring Counterarguments and Seeking Clarification (43 pages), by
– Mark Engman, Director, Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, U.S. Fund for UNICEF
– Susan Kilbourne, Esq., Vice President for Advocacy and Outreach, Voices for America’s Children
– Nury Nelson, Advisor, Homeschoolers UN Club

Political Opposition to U.S. Ratification of the CRC

Most from conservative, Religious Right organizations:

– Christian Coalition
– Concerned Women for America
– Eagle Forum
– Family Research Council
– Focus on the Family
– Home School Legal Defense Association
– John Birch Society
– National Center for Home Education

…

Homeschoolers and the CRC

Is Homeschooling legal in the U.S.?
– Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 States and U.S. Territories.

How many homeschoolers live in the U.S.?
– Latest figures from National Center for Education Studies: 1.1 million in 2003
– HSLDA claims to represent 1.7 million homeschoolers in the U.S.
– The number could be higher… over 2 million

…

How the CRC Really Works

– The CRC places obligations on the States Parties the governments of the countries that ratify it to protect children against governmental actions and intrusions.
– The CRC obligates governments to provide certain programs for children’s benefit, setting standards for governmental policies regarding children.

[emphasis in original]

posted by Valerie