The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) lays out a comprehensive set of rights for children, and recognizes the essential role and importance of parents and families in their development. It is the most widely accepted human rights treaty in history. To date, 193 nations have ratified this important treaty.
The United States has yet to ratify.
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is joining with other child welfare organizations to ask President Obama to order a review by the Department of State and send the CRC treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification -- but we need to show that it has the overwhelming support of thousands of concerned citizens like you.
Sign the petition to ask President Obama to submit the Convention on the Rights of the Child to Senate for ratification and demonstrate that the U.S. stands firm for the rights of children around the world.
Dear President Obama,
I support U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and I urge you to make it your priority to send the CRC to the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent.
[Your comment will be added here]
Around the world, the CRC is an important tool to promote the protection and rights for the most vulnerable and marginalized children, and to support the importance of families and parents. I believe that it will strengthen our Nation's ability to help children overseas, and provide a framework to help us better address challenges facing children and families here at home. Mr. President, you are a champion for human rights and for children's rights. As you know, the United States stands with Somalia and South Sudan as the only holdout from ratifying the CRC, the most widely accepted human rights instrument in history. The conspicuous absence of the United States as a party to the CRC undermines our Nation's international leadership role on behalf of children and families.
The United States cannot move forward on ratification, however, unless the President submits this treaty to the Senate for its advice and consent. Although Administration officials have promised to review the treaty, there is no specific timeframe for submitting it to the Senate. I ask you to submit the CRC to the Senate by the next Universal Children's Day. The United Nations and its member countries observe this day annually to promote the welfare and protection of the world's children. By sending the CRC to the Senate, Mr. President, you will demonstrate your commitment to the values enshrined in the treaty.
November 2012 marks 23 years since the UN adopted the CRC, and 17 years since President Clinton signed it. I believe that's more than enough time to review this important treaty.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
