Media 4 Humanity
Fighting Child Trafficking in the United States
Level: International
Overview:
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international convention that outlines the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children (any person under the age of 18).
Key provisions:
- a guarantee by states"to prevent and remedy kidnapping or retention of children abroad by parent or third party"
- freedom from abuse or neglect
- protection of a child without family
- adoption with the best interest of the child in mind and with safeguards in place
- special protection for refugee children
- right to healthcare
- right to education
A nation who ratifies the CRC are bound to the provisions by international law and are required to report to, and appear before the UN Committee on the CRC periodically to have their progress on the implementation of the provisions of the CRC and the welfare of the children in their nation reviewed.
Two optional protocols have been added since the original convention:
- the first restricts involvement of children in military conflict
- the second prohibits the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
Status:
As of December 2008, 193 countries have ratified the CRC and 120 countries have ratified the two additional protocols. Out of the 193, every member of the United Nations has ratified the CRC with the exception of Somalia and the United States.
What Can You Do?:
Write your Congressman or woman in support of the CRC for M4H! Coming Soon.