The Children in Our Fields – World Day Against Child Labor 2012
For the forgotten, whom we remember once a year… If I were a poet, this would be my opening line, like A Bed for the Night or A Brief for the Defense or Elegy, but the poem would be darker and full of Bukowski-like heartache and disdain. But I am not a poet. I am [...]
The CRC, Chocolate and School Lunch – Is this Progress?
In her very personal essay this week, A Committed Reluctance, child protection specialist Jessica Lenz writes of her deepened commitment to the U.S. Campaign to Ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a result of recently becoming a mother.
A Committed Reluctance
I am the mother of a 4-month-old. In my twelve years of working on child protection issues around the world and teaching communities, families and government about the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), never has this treaty been more important to me than now. Like all parents around the world, I want [...]
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
This week at Media Voices we present a photo essay on child labor by David Parker along with his companion Viewpoint describing the working conditions and nature of the child labor he’s been photographing since 1992. Looking at his stunning images of children laboring in brick yards, I’m reminded of how much remains to be [...]
Standing on Tip Toe to Support U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
In April of this past year when the terrible plane accident occurred in Poland killing so many members of government, including the president, I took pause too. I reflected on the country that unfortunately is not thought of so often in the daily lives of the average American, but its history and its people have [...]
The Power of the Lens
This week at Media Voices we feature an article by Dr. David Parker, “Child Labor through a Photographer’s Lens.” A physician who specializes in occupational health and safety issues, David’s images convey the daily lives of impoverished children around the world. Since the mid 1990′s, he has documented child labor in a wide range of [...]
Accelerating action against child labour
ILO background report on the current state of global child labour prepared for the Global Child Labour Conference in The Hague, 10-11 May 2010
One Childhood
This week at Media Voices brings a mix of stories and information on recurring topics; child poverty in America, street children in Latin America and the U.S. Campaign to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In each of these reports, the focus is on what children need to thrive and how to [...]
The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Empowering Parents
Even after 20 years of progress, there is still fear in the United States that the Convention on the Rights of the Child will take away parental rights and responsibility if the U.S. were to ratify the CRC. On the contrary, the exact opposite has occurred. I have spent much of my professional career working [...]
Prioritizing the Discussion on Child Rights
On March 25th in Iowa, five days after the U.S. Congress passed a historical bill on healthcare reform, President Barack Obama gave a speech to a crowd of both supportive and concerned citizens about what this legislation truly means to Americans across the nation. Building off of his campaign slogan, he emphasized that “Change is [...]
A First Lady’s Commitment to the Rights of Children
On February 9th, 2010, U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama launched a national campaign, “Let’s Move” in an effort to fight against childhood obesity. With national statistics showing that one in three children in the U.S. is overweight with 20% of children 6 to 11 years and 18% of children 12 to 19 years as obese, [...]
It is the Right Time to Ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child
In the last several weeks the headlines across the U.S. have been filled with scenes of the devastation in Haiti, the Democratic upset in Massachusetts, the continued economic struggles and unemployment rates, and the unrelenting grueling debate over healthcare. There is a lot of energy that could have us spinning in a downward spiral of [...]
Oprah, the Media, the CRC and Hunger
November 20th came and went without so much as a mention of the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in virtually any of the mainstream media. I checked my New York Times carefully, cover to cover, nothing there. I called friends in DC to ask if they’d seen anything in [...]
Marian Wright Edelman
On June 1st 2009, Marian Wright Edelman gave a speech at the Georgetown Law Center in support of ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She discussed the treatment of children in the United States at present, including the so-called poverty-to-prison pipeline that wastes so many of our children’s lives.
America’s Children Deserve America’s Commitment and Leadership in Child Rights
The most universally ratified treaty in history, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), will turn 20 years old this Friday, November 20th, 2009. It is the most comprehensive document on the rights of children that recognizes every child’s right to develop physically, mentally and socially to his or her fullest potential, to [...]
Urge President Obama to Take Action for Children’s Rights
The International Rescue Committee is a critical global network of first responders, humanitarian relief workers, healthcare providers, educators, community leaders, activists, and volunteers. The organization provides access to safety, sanctuary, and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been shattered by violence and oppression. On their site is an important petition urging President [...]
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Visit the International Rescue site to sign the petition.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child turns 20 years of age on November 20th, 2009.
The CRC recognizes that childhood is a special time of life that deserves protection and assistance.
193 countries, virtually the entire membership of the United Nations, have ratified this international law which enshrines the rights of children to be raised in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.
While the United States played central role in drafting the CRC, it remains one of only two countries, Somalia being the other, that has failed to ratify this treaty.
MVC endorses efforts that call for the U.S. to ratify the CRC.
The CRC establishes a legal foundation for the human rights of children all over the world. It asserts that the life of every child is of equal value, without regard to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion or nationality. The CRC is also a detailed road-map for improving and protecting the practical conditions in which children grow up, covering a broad range of issues such as education, health, hunger, safety, exploitation, gender equality, adoption, disabilities, child mortality, juvenile justice.
It’s our belief at Media Voices that the CRC is a landmark document that describes the world that our children deserve. In the months to come, we will post guest commentary, articles, links and information about the CRC and the efforts to have it finally ratified by the U.S. Congress.
Below is a key organization- working towards ratification- with many resources available.
Childrightscampaign.org
