The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Freedom or Bondage?
THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
FREEDOM OR BONDAGE ?
by Joyce Cale
We are well on the way to becoming citizens of a New World Order and it seems as if it happened almost overnight. We can no longer afford to remain ignorant nor silent about issues and let others completely shape our destiny. We need to get out some "maps" and travel on the "Information Super-Highway," searching out the enemy of falsehood and lies. The war we will wage is for our beliefs and for our children. Our two greatest weapons are Truth (found in Jesus Christ) and Prayer. Our goal is to discern the truth of what we see and hear, using the communication tools at our disposal and our orthodox brethren. By firmly imbedding our Faith with authentic Magisterial documents, as and , our discernment will become finely tuned. Tempered by prayer and armed with faith in the Holy Trinity, our intelligence can become a prism reflecting God's global plan. With these things in mind, let us begin to broaden the horizons of our intimate inner circles and put on our global-vision glasses. In order to entice your interest in the politics of global change (if you aren't already curious), we will peek into the window of a global agency called the United Nations of which our United States of America is an active member. So put on your walking shoes and dress comfortably, while we travel on the Information Highway Express.
Looking at a Present and Serious Concern
On November 29, 1989, the U.N. adopted the Convention of the Rights of the Child after 10 years of negotiations. As it is with any ballot issue to be adopted, it required approval of a two-thirds (majority) vote. This Convention on the Rights of the Child is pushing ahead in record breaking time ever since it entered into force on September 2, 1990, after being ratified by 20 states (countries). It consists of 54 articles and pertains to all children under 18. "One of the provisions of that Convention called for the establishment of a permanent worldwide committee to monitor the observance of the Convention. This Committee, made up of 10 experts chosen by their own nations, will meet on a regular basis....." and will supervise the interpretation and enforcement of the mandates of the Convention."
As of October 1993, the United States was among 29 countries out of 180 that have neither signed nor ratified this Covenant. The Clintons' Administration, the American Bar Association and many legal (including the National Educational Association and its affiliates) and public interest groups are vigorously encouraging the Senate to ratify it. This will legally bind the U.S. to its mandates and supersede any other applicable national or international laws. The Senate is the only congressional body who can vote on foreign relations. This will not go before the House of Representatives. Reasons given for reluctance to sign the treaty are that it will conflict with domestic abortion and capital punishment laws ("...in some states a person can be executed for homicide committed while they were juvenile")*. If the U.S. were to ratify this Convention, it would signal the "kiss of death" to parental rights and control over their own children. There are those who would delight in having our children sacrificed on their gilded platform so they could be served to the gods of humanism.
This Convention of Child's Rights is surprisingly connected indirectly to the population planners who vigorously espouse "Every child should be a wanted child." Their first commandment seems to be "The end justifies the means." It is assumed we have been taught in our Roman Catholic faith that the end never justifies the means, two wrongs do not make a right, and values clarification and critical thinking skills will not make it so. Some things are just intrinsically evil by their inherent nature.
Investigate and Take Action A.S.A.P
Many, if not most, of the 54 articles of child rights sound protective and sensible. Many are contradictory. However, all are interpreted by the "experts" appointed by U.N. members. Space does not allow for listing the 54 articles comprising the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Your library should have a copy of the "UNESCO COURIER" (October 1991 - pp. 39-42)**. You need to examine and evaluate this document. Time is of the essence. It most certainly will affect your child if mandated (ratified) by the Senate. if you judge the document as harmful then write, fax or phone your Senator and any other Senator who you know is cautious about abdicating parental rights to an arbitrary authority.
The name of the bill up for ratification is SR70. There is no movement on this bill at this writing but it could be another SIN (Sneak In Now) Bill.
FOUR REASONS TO OPPOSE THE: U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
1. If this U.N. treaty is ratified by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate and signed by President Clinton, who has already made it clear he will sign it, it will become the supreme law of the land at the same level as the U.S. Constitution. The "supremacy clause" of the Constitution gives all treaties this status.
2. If ratified, the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child will be implemented in the U.S. and virtually destroy the parental rights we presently enjoy. This treaty will give all children the right to freedom of association, freedom of expression, freedom of religion; the right to privacy (which includes the right to abortion); the right to choose public schools; the right of access to media materials (including TV, shows of choice, etc). Any parents who infringes on his/her children's rights in these areas could be prosecuted with the possibility of having their children removed from the home. The treaty virtually prohibits corporal punishment of children.
3. The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child is not needed in the U.S. We already have a huge bureaucracy throughout the states and many laws governing, investigating, and prosecuting child abuse cases. The treaty is much better designed for countries like Iraq or China.
4. The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child would cost billions of dollars to implement, in addition to generating hefty litigation costs parents throughout the country resist this attack on their parental rights. The White House Domestic Policy Office has confirmed these costs.
Why Act Now?
Presently, 50 Senators are on record as co-sponsors, calling for the President to send the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Senate for ratification. This number of co-sponsors demonstrates to President Clinton that he is getting very close to the two-thirds majority he needs to have this treaty ratified. Presently, the State Department is preparing to recommend that the President send the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Senate this fall.
Children's rights advocates realize that calls and letters from concerned citizens like you who oppose the treaty are increasing. Thus, they are turning up the pressure on government.
Each of us can make a difference. Remember H.R. 6! The U.N. Convention on the rights of the Child is the most dangerous attempt to destroy our parental rights and grab our children. This treaty can undo, in one fell swoop, everything we have worked for state by state in regaining our freedoms on behalf of families.
The most effective strategy for winning this battle is to "kill" the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child so that President Clinton will never send it to the Senate for ratification. If we can persuade many of the 50 Senators who presently co-sponsor S.R. 70 to withdraw their support, the President may realize he does not have the two-thirds vote he needs. Thus to avoid embarrassment, he may decide not to send it to the Senate.
We also want to convince the U.S. Senators who are not signed on as co-sponsors to refrain from giving their support. (This is an action in direct opposition to other groups who are encouraging co-sponsorship.)
One of the groups urging the passage of the treaty is the American Academy of Pediatrics which represents 47,000 pediatricians. They recently wrote to President Clinton stating:
Opponents of the Convention, many of whom oppose the portions of the treaty banning corporal punishment for minors and homeschooling, have been contacting Senate offices. Therefore it is critical that Senators and the President hear that there is broad based grassroots support for the treaty. Fellows are encouraged to contact their Senators and the President expressing support for the Convention and either requesting cosponsorship or thanking Senators for their cosponsorship.
What Do We Need To Win?
The Convention can be defeated. This is a winnable battle. A "no" vote by one-third of the members present plus one will defeat this dangerous treaty. Assuming that every member of the Senate is present for the vote, we will need to secure 34 votes. Currently, there are approximately 50 Senators who have indicated that they strongly favor the Convention. Sixty-six pro-treaty votes will guarantee ratification of the treaty.
At least 15 Senators have indicated a strong opposition to the Convention. Another fifteen appear to be leaning in opposition to the treaty.
Reprinted with permission by the National Center for Home Education, P.O. Box 125, Paeonian Springs, VA 22129.
Taken from the August/September 1994 issue of "The Catholic Family's Magnificat!", P.O. Box 43-1015, Pontiac, MI 48343-1015. Subscriptions to this excellent magazine for homeschooling families are available for $22.50 a year (6 issues).
