“We will be judged in the future on the actions we take today — on results. On this United Nations Day, let us rededicate ourselves to achieving them.”
– Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General
Today marks the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Charter, which was put into force on the 24th of October 1945. United Nations Day is was established to show people around the world the goals and acomplishments of the United Nations. United Nations Day is part of United Nations Week, which runs from the 20th to the 26th of October.
What has the United Nations and its agencies done in recent years?
-Vaccinated more than 500 million children since 2000, reducing measles deaths by 68%.
-Provided food, shelter, medical aid, and education to more than 25 million people in 2007.
-Deployed over 130,000 troops and personnel to 19 political and peacekeeping missions.
While it is undisputed the UN agencies have made a huge and much needed positive impact around the world, it is not without it's faults, nor are its member countries. There fore today is a great time to reevaluate the US's failure to ratifify of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
As stated in the post, The United States and The Rights of the Child, on February 16, 1995, the United States did actually sign the Convention; however the treaty has never been submitted to the Senate. The United States has also stated that it does not plan to ratify the convention.
Why dosent the US ratify the Convention? The most probable cause for disagreement and non-ratification of the Convention by the United States is the paradox of the death penalty. The Convention prohibits any child being sentenced to death for any crime occurring before the child turns eighteen. Currently with twenty-two states allowing the executions of juveniles, one can easily see the United States unlikely ratification and clear obstacle to the United States ever ratifying the treaty. During the above mentioned Special Session the United States and Iran alone rejected a proposal to ban the addition of a ban on the death penalty or life without parole for children offenders. For more information on the Convention please see, Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Now is a perfect time to get behing the ratification of the Convention as we near it's anviersy, as on November 20th 1959 the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. On the same date in 1989 the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Therefore as we near the date, which is also designated as Universal Children's Day in most countries, one should look into thier own role with in both the UN and the protection of children's rights across the globe.
What can you do to support a US ratification of the Convention?
SOS Children's Villages is currently sponsoring a Petition, which will be sent to our next President, McCain or Obama urging them to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
