In our first issue of the journal, Nadine Strossen, the former president of the American Civil Liberties Union shared the following concern with our readers in her article, ” Keeping The Constitution Inside The Schoolhouse Gate--Students' Rights Thirty Years After Tinker V. Des Moines Independent Community School District.”
She wrote:
“Most importantly, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child,[7] which the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously in 1989, broke all records as both the most rapidly ratified and the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.[8] Out of all 193 nation-states in the world, only two have not ratified this convention.[9] It recognizes broad rights for minors….
“Alas, though, of the two countries in the entire world that have not ratified this convention, one is our very own United States.[11] The only other country that is our companion in this tiny category of non-ratifiers is Somalia.[12] And that is only because Somalia does not have an internationally recognized government, so it is literally unable to ratify-an excuse that is not available to the United States![13] The United States Government's refusal to ratify this international convention protecting minors' and students' rights in part reflects our country's longstanding general isolationism concerning international law.[14] But it also reflects the recent subversion of young people's dignity and rights throughout our domestic political and legal systems.[15]”
This Friday, November 20th, will mark the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United States has still not ratified this treaty in which the world community recognized the universal human rights and protection needs of children. During his presidential campaign, President Obama recognized the need to review our treaties in order to ensure that the United States resumes its role of global leadership in human rights. This Friday, on its 20th anniversary, would be a good day for the Senate to finally ratify the treaty. (It had been signed by President Clinton in 1995 but never ratified by the Senate)
For more information on the Convention on the Rights of the Child , go to Unicef website.
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Check out an interesting lesson plan that helps teachers teach children about the "Convention on the Rights of the Child." You can find it at the website of "Indykids" at: http://indykids.net/main/
Look for the January 2010 Teachers Guide.
All Grown Up? The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: 21 Years On
Date: Wednesday 2nd June 2010
Time: 10.00 - 4.00pm
Venue: Southlands College, Roehampton University
The UNCRC at 21: reflections on its impact on education rights in Europe
Professor Laura Lundy: Professor of Education in the School of Education at Queen’s University, Belfast
Mobilizing for Child Rights-lessons from 21 years of the CRC
Professor Sir Richard Jolly: Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF
The UNCRC: Theory and Practice
Lord Leslie Griffiths (Lord Griffiths of Burry Port): Superintendent Minister at Wesley's Chapel, London
The UNCRC: A Philosopher's View
Professor David Archard: Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy at Lancaster University
Discussion
Professor David Bridges: Professor of Education at University of East Anglia
More information and registration available: http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/education/events/allgrownup.html
Or contact Natalie O'Driscoll:
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