I first read about this a couple of months ago, and although I've been mainly focused on the out-of-control spending lately I want to make sure people are aware of it, because according to yesterday's news, this is being brought up again for consideration and it needs to be stopped.

The "U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child" essentially demotes parents to simply caregivers, and elevates the state as the ultimate authority on how children should be raised, giving the state the right to override any number of parental decisions.

Forget about homeschooling, imparting your religious values to your child, or teaching responsible behavior. Forget about setting appropriate limits on what your children may and may not do. If the state disagrees with you, this law would give them the power to intervene. If your CHILD disagrees with you (for instance, if you ground them or give them a curfew), they are empowered to seek state intervention to override you. This is yet another attack on the family.


The United States has signed the convention, but the Senate has not yet ratified it. We are the only nation, aside from Somalia which has no organized government, that has not yet ratified the treaty. Ratification is required to actually make it a binding law in the U.S. If that happens, because of our treaty law, this would nullify approximately 90% of existing family laws currently on the books at the state and local levels, and because it allows the U.N. authority, it would also seriously infringe on our national soveriegnty.

What can we do to stop this? Parentalrights.org is seeking to amend the Constitution to protect children by empowering parents. The text of their proposed amendment reads:

DRAFT PARENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
FOR THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

SECTION 1
The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.

SECTION 2
Neither the United States nor any state shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served.

SECTION 3
No treaty may be adopted nor shall any source of international law be employed to supersede, modify, interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed by this article.

Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009