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Conventions on the Rights of the Child - Coggle Diagram
Conventions on the Rights of the Child
State Party: 196 Signatories: 1 (US)
The US not ratifying the convention is not surprising. Many of its child labour laws have been being changed recently. According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2023 alone, seven bills were introduced to weaken child labour protections in six different states. The minimum age for most employment is 14 and hours for people under 16 is restricted. CNN also says that Nebraska introduced a bill that stated that allows youth employees to be paid less than minimum wage. Human Rights Watch doesn't grade a single state above a C (although only 7 of the states have a C). Only 9 states follow the CRC's rule for child marriage age. In the US, over 50,000 children are tried in adult courts each year, which does not follow the rules of the CRC.
https://www.hrw.org/feature/2022/09/13/how-do-states-measure-up-child-rights
In order for the US to ratify the convention, The president must sign a treaty which will then go to the Senate. The Senate must then agree with a two thirds majority and send it back to the president for them to ratify.
Haiti is one of the 196 signatures, but due to their unfortunate governing system. They don't have human rights to begin with, let alone conventions on the rights of a child. In fact, according to UNICEF nearly 3 million children need support in Haiti as they are "in extreme jeopardy amid shocking levels of violence, malnutrition and poverty". Haiti is among several other countries globally that have both signed and ratified conventions on the rights of a child and not met the expectations due to the current situation of their weak government and backlash of gangs.
"Most universally accepted human rights instrument" - Council of Europe
Based on the idea that childhood is seperate from adulthood and should not be treated as training for adulthood. Children are also not extensions or property of their parents and have rights of their own.
Important Articles
Keeping Families Together
Protection from Harmful Work, Harmful Drugs, Sexual Abuse, Sale and Trafficking, Exploitation, and War
Education
Optional Protocol on the sale of children (prostitution and pornography)
Optional Protocol on children in armed conflicts
Optional Protocol on communications procedure
Enforcement
Within two years of ratification, states must submit a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding their implementation of the Convention. After that, the state must submit a report every 5 years to check on progress and enforcement.
NGO's have a lot of power in the enforcement of the CRC through force
Governments are urged to involve all sectors of society in the preparation of reports. Many governments extensively consult NGOs by incorporating their contributions (raising awareness or pushing for change) on reports.
Governments are encouraged to consult UNICEF for expert/technical advice and assistance. As well as, UNICEF is entitled to be present during review the report of the convention in a given country, and to also submit reports.
The states must provide legal and other support services to the child victims by calling for international cooperation to prevent/punish violations (as part of the optional protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography).
