President Joe Biden, It's Time To Ratify The Convention On The Rights Of The Child

President Joe Biden, It's Time To Ratify The Convention On The Rights Of The Child

Started
March 5, 2021
Signatures: 56Next Goal: 100
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Why this petition matters

Started by Brittany Shein

Dear President Joe Biden,

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an essential document protecting the rights of children worldwide. Since the United States is one of the only countries yet to have ratified the treaty, I am asking that you take immediate action to rectify this injustice to the children within your jurisdiction.

The Convention, outlining children's rights globally, is a necessary document to hold duty bearers accountable for the upholding of the standards of behavior acceptable when it comes to all children. Children are defined as all human beings under the age of 18. If ratified, all US government workers would be expected to treat rights holders (children and parents) in a fair and humane manner as described in the treaty.

The CRC can be accessed and read in full here.

As a children's rights activist, I am haunted by many of the instances of abuse towards children within the United States but especially those that end in fatalities.

I will reference 3 in this petition that weigh heavily on my heart:

1. Gabriel Fernandez: 8 years old, beaten and tortured to death by his mother and her boyfriend with abuse reported to social workers but with no adequate intervention.

2. Trayvon Martin: 17 years old, shot and killed by a "community watch member" for looking "suspicious."

3. Tamir Rice: 12 years old, murdered by a police officer for playing with a toy gun.

Every day children are abused globally, but within the United States children do not have the same children's rights protections afforded to countries that are member states of the CRC. As such, I am petitioning the US government to ratify the treaty and take a stance for children's rights.

Gabriel Fernandez, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and all of the other children that cannot speak for themselves deserve to be here. I understand that it was unthinkable to imagine the Trump administration ratifying such a necessary international treaty, however, the Biden administration is not the Trump administration, at all. Supporting human rights in rhetoric is insufficient if in actuality a treaty such as the CRC is not ratified by the United States government.

Children require a specific set of rights and protections as a consequence of being young human beings. They have specific needs that can only be fully realized if those responsible for addressing those needs are held accountable. Globally, duty bearers are held accountable for enforcing these rights as a direct result of being party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If you require further motivation beyond moral reasoning as to why children's rights are necessary for your jurisdiction please consult The Child-Centric Framework (CCF). CCF is a theory I developed at UCL for the promotion of children's rights that is based in psychology, sociology and public policy.

Children may not have the right to vote, but they do have rights. Please, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, ratify The Convention on the Rights of The Child and protect your youngest citizens from further exploitation, harm or death. 

Signed,

A Concerned Global Citizen

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Signatures: 56Next Goal: 100
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