{ "id": "R40484", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R40484", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 443331, "date": "2015-07-27", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:43:42.522051", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child", "summary": "U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereinafter referred to as CRC or the Convention) may be a key area of focus during the 114th Congress, particularly if President Barack Obama seeks the advice and consent of the Senate.\nBackground and Current Status\nCRC is an international treaty that aims to protect the rights of children worldwide. It defines a child as any human being under the age of 18, and calls on States Parties to take all appropriate measures to ensure that children\u2019s rights are protected\u2014including the right to a name and nationality; freedom of speech and thought; access to healthcare and education; and freedom from exploitation, torture, and abuse. CRC entered into force in September 1990, and has been ratified by 195 countries, making it the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. Two countries, the United States and Somalia, have not ratified the Convention. The President has not transmitted CRC to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification. \nU.S. Actions\nDespite widespread U.S. support for the overall objectives of the Convention, policymakers have raised concerns as to whether it is an effective mechanism for protecting children\u2019s rights. The Clinton Administration signed the Convention in February 1995, but did not submit it to the Senate primarily because of strong opposition from several Members of Congress. The George W. Bush Administration opposed CRC and expressed serious political and legal concerns with the treaty, arguing that it conflicted with U.S. laws regarding privacy and family rights. The election of President Obama in 2008 focused renewed attention on the possibility of U.S. ratification. For the past several years, the Administration has stated that it supports the goals of the Convention and that the decision to pursue ratification of CRC is being determined through an interagency policy review.\nIssues for Congress\nThe question of U.S. ratification of CRC has generated contentious debate. Opponents argue that ratification would undermine U.S. sovereignty by giving the United Nations authority to determine the best interests of U.S. children. Some are also concerned that CRC could interfere in the private lives of families, particularly the rights of parents to educate or discipline their children. Moreover, some contend that CRC is an ineffective mechanism for protecting children\u2019s rights. They emphasize that countries widely regarded as abusers of children\u2019s rights, such as China and Sudan, are party to the Convention. On the other hand, supporters of U.S. ratification hold that CRC\u2019s intention is not to circumvent the role of parents but to protect children against government intrusion and abuse. Proponents emphasize what they view as CRC\u2019s strong support for the role of parents and the family structure. They also hold that U.S. federal and state laws generally meet the requirements of CRC, and that U.S. ratification would strengthen the United States\u2019 credibility when advocating children\u2019s rights abroad.\nPerhaps more than other human rights treaties, CRC addresses areas usually considered to be primarily or exclusively under the jurisdiction of state or local governments, including education, juvenile justice, and access to healthcare. Some of these conflicting areas will likely need to be resolved by the executive branch and the Senate before the United States ratifies the Convention.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40484", "sha1": "2141ddab4479c76be4f5d8eed945d50b97473440", "filename": "files/20150727_R40484_2141ddab4479c76be4f5d8eed945d50b97473440.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40484", "sha1": "909729c086ac44e4f1d4bb2b099926eafe5382fa", "filename": "files/20150727_R40484_909729c086ac44e4f1d4bb2b099926eafe5382fa.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3605, "name": "United Nations" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3927, "name": "Missing and Sexually Exploited Individuals" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc282276/", "id": "R40484_2014Feb06", "date": "2014-02-06", "retrieved": "2014-04-02T19:38:14", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of the Child's (CRC's) background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the CRC, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. It also highlights issues for the 112th Congress, including the CRC's possible impact on federal and state laws, U.S. sovereignty, parental rights, and U.S. family planning and abortion policy. In addition, the report addresses the effectiveness of CRC in protecting the rights of children internationally and its potential use as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140206_R40484_e5f0cce03727e3b24a87b856eb65220debbe0d54.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140206_R40484_e5f0cce03727e3b24a87b856eb65220debbe0d54.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462089/", "id": "R40484_2013Apr01", "date": "2013-04-01", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child", "summary": "This report provides a brief history of the United nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child and outlines its objectives and structure, including the role and responsibilities of the treaty's monitoring body, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It examines U.S. policy toward CRC, including the positions of past and current Administrations and congressional perspectives.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130401_R40484_8c80a9fdfb4716bccfe230948335b386e649a9af.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130401_R40484_8c80a9fdfb4716bccfe230948335b386e649a9af.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc96668/", "id": "R40484_2012Jul02", "date": "2012-07-02", "retrieved": "2012-08-07T13:52:45", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of the Child's (CRC's) background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the CRC, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. It also highlights issues for the 112th Congress, including the CRC's possible impact on federal and state laws, U.S. sovereignty, parental rights, and U.S. family planning and abortion policy. In addition, the report addresses the effectiveness of CRC in protecting the rights of children internationally and its potential use as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120702_R40484_6c86e37cbe56abb8f961e52a3444e31381f1dd08.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120702_R40484_6c86e37cbe56abb8f961e52a3444e31381f1dd08.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93814/", "id": "R40484_2011June09", "date": "2011-06-09", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child's (CRC) background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the Convention, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. It also highlights issues for the 112th Congress, including the Convention's possible impact on federal and state laws, U.S. sovereignty, parental rights, and U.S. family planning and abortion policy. In addition, the report addresses the effectiveness of CRC in protecting the rights of children internationally and its potential use as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110609_R40484_2930dc5a7095e837297a3462d487ee0bff6e43e0.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110609_R40484_2930dc5a7095e837297a3462d487ee0bff6e43e0.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Human rights", "name": "Human rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818091/", "id": "R40484_2010Dec06", "date": "2010-12-06", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20101206_R40484_24a914f494766b0f475f3a095e74f3cd65d33f1c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20101206_R40484_24a914f494766b0f475f3a095e74f3cd65d33f1c.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501808/", "id": "R40484_2010May10", "date": "2010-05-10", "retrieved": "2015-03-30T22:03:27", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is an international treaty that addresses the rights of children worldwide. It calls on States Parties to take all appropriate measures to ensure that children receive special rights, including the right to a name and nationality; access to healthcare, education, and parental care; and protection from exploitation, abuse, and neglect. This report provides a brief history of the Convention and outlines its objectives and structure, including the role and responsibilities of the treaty's monitoring body, the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It examines U.S. policy toward CRC, including the positions of past and current Administrations and congressional perspectives. The report also addresses selected policy issues that the 111th Congress may wish to take into account if considering ratification of CRC-- including the treaty's possible impact on U.S. sovereignty, federal and state laws, and parental rights. Other issues for possible consideration include the effectiveness of the Convention in protecting children's rights, and its role as a U.S. foreign policy instrument.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100510_R40484_1da6b2a1ce7a7954cd01d6e3533c2450b70526b4.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100510_R40484_1da6b2a1ce7a7954cd01d6e3533c2450b70526b4.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Human rights", "name": "Human rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc627083/", "id": "R40484_2009Dec02", "date": "2009-12-02", "retrieved": "2015-06-15T14:46:40", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child's (CRC) background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the Convention, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20091202_R40484_ec9ee372d9d79d6859da0815eff0b3aa60a65416.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20091202_R40484_ec9ee372d9d79d6859da0815eff0b3aa60a65416.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Human rights", "name": "Human rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700621/", "id": "R40484_2009Aug05", "date": "2009-08-05", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child's (CRC) background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the Convention, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. It also highlights issues for the 112th Congress, including the Convention's possible impact on federal and state laws, U.S. sovereignty, parental rights, and U.S. family planning and abortion policy.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090805_R40484_4845552f62c6875c34834dabfcdd6c70f097321d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090805_R40484_4845552f62c6875c34834dabfcdd6c70f097321d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Human rights", "name": "Human rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc505394/", "id": "R40484_2009May12", "date": "2009-05-12", "retrieved": "2015-05-29T05:37:21", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child's (CRC) background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the Convention, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. It also highlights issues for the 112th Congress, including the Convention's possible impact on federal and state laws, U.S. sovereignty, parental rights, and U.S. family planning and abortion policy.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090512_R40484_db90d0d2a888d5943cad7bffacf15dea74adf509.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090512_R40484_db90d0d2a888d5943cad7bffacf15dea74adf509.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children", "name": "Children" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Children's rights", "name": "Children's rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Civil rights", "name": "Civil rights" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Human rights", "name": "Human rights" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700811/", "id": "R40484_2009Apr01", "date": "2009-04-01", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the Convention, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. 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