Thursday, March 6, 2008

What is the UNCRC?

Please know that I'm still learning about this treaty, so some of my information may not be 100% correct.

The UNCRC is a treaty that has been signed by all member nations of the U.N. except two - the U.S. and Somalia. I don't know why Somalia hasn't signed it, but from what I understand, any international treaty signed by the U.S. bears just as much legality as laws passed within our country, so signing this would drastically change our laws. Some of the changes. One of the good things - that every child has the inherent right to life. Most absolutely! But it also says that every child shall be registered immediately after birth (how immediately? Will someone need to attend every birth to phone, fax, or otherwise document the new child?)

Also says (in Article 9):
States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. Such determination may be necessary in a particular case such as one involving abuse or neglect of the child by the parents, or one where the parents are living separately and a decision must be made as to the child's place of residence.


Please note - it said except when competent authorities determine separation is in the best interests of the child. I don't know about you, but I have seen many cases where the authorities aren't very competent, and who gets to determine what is in the best interests of the child? Not the parents. This opens up way too many possibilities for our children to be removed from our homes because of what some stranger who may or may not be competent deems to be in the "best interests" of our children.

Now lets look at Article 13:
1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.


So does that mean that my children can draw on my walls, call it "art" and not be disciplined? Does it mean that if my child wants to learn about and become a Satanist I have to allow it? Sounds a little scary to me.

Article 15:
1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.


So now my kids can be friends with whomever they want to be friends. We can't tell them not to associate with someone we don't approve of because it would be illegal. And if they want to spend countless hours "hanging out", we need to allow it, no matter where, no matter when, no matter with whom.

Article 16:
1. No child shall be subject to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation.


So, for all parents of young children who need, um, assistance in the bathroom - that would be illegal as it would subject the child to interference with his or her privacy. Also, parents of teens - no snooping through snail mail, email, or my space comments - it is an invasion of privacy.

There are several other Articles in the treaty. Feel free to educate yourself on it.
The good news is that the U.S. hasn't signed it. Yet. The bad news is that if the U.S. signs it, parents will no longer have the right to decide how to raise our children. Not unless the Constitution is amended to protect parental rights. Check out Parental Rights.org

I realize some of my interpretations are a little silly, but the reality is that this treaty could allow the state to have access to our children and our homes any time they want. This treaty could allow the state to decide that it doesn't like homeschoolers, and remove children from their families. This treaty could allow the state to decide how we teach our faith to our children, or worse, decide that we can't teach our faith to our children. This treaty opens up too many possibilities for the government to take our children away from us.

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