The UN created the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990 in order to protect every child, "irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status."
It states that, "1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. 2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child."
The only UN member nations who have not yet ratified this convention are the war-torn, lawless nation of Somalia, and. . . you guessed it, the United States of America. Who could possibly justify opposition to a child's right to survive, to live without being discriminated against, and to develop in a healthy way?
President Obama has begun an initiative to join this global pact, through US ratification.
However, two-thirds of the 100-seat Senate must approve this decision in order to make ratification a reality. Your signature helps President Obama fight for the rights of your child, our children in Kenya, and children all over the world.
We, the undersigned, believe that every child in the world, "irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status," has an inherent right to life, to health, to have his or her identity, nationality and name protected, and to be spared the experience of violence, abuse, and forced labor.
We believe that each child, "for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding."
We believe that "in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration."
We recognize "the importance of international co-operation for improving the living conditions of children in every country, in particular in the developing countries"
(Convention on the Rights of the Child Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by
General Assembly resolution 44/25
of 20 November 1989).
We, the undersigned, recognize that all UN member nations must cooperate and ratify this convention to make it efficacious, and that the United States may undermine the UN's ability to adequately protect children globally, by delaying US ratification.
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We urge the United States Senate to stand up for the rights of innocent and vulnerable children everywhere by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
