This year’s commemoration of Universal Children’s Day, on November 20, also marks the 20th anniversary of the Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and 20 years of effort by the United Nations to give the world's children protected status through an inclusive, legally-binding human rights treaty. 

U.S. Baha’is have been active participants in collaborative efforts to attain U.S. ratification of the CRC treaty for all of those 20 years.

The treaty is based on four core principles: non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. To date, 193 U.N. member states have ratified the treaty; only Somalia and the United States have not yet ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“The Baha’i teachings emphasize the importance of the education, care and protection of all children around the world,” said Gleibys Buchanan, representative for the advancement of women for the Baha’is of the United States. “It is important for the United States to ratify the CRC because in doing so it will send a strong message that it is committed to, and accountable for, adhering to this standard.”

In anticipation of the treaty’s 20th anniversary, the Baha’is of the United States join the Campaign for the U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in calling on college and university students to participate in a National Briefing Day on Nov. 20, 2009.

“We urge Baha’is affiliated with college or university campuses to organize events on or around November 20, dedicated to educating themselves and the rest of their community about the CRC treaty and the potential benefits of the United States ratifying it,” Buchanan said.

For information on how to organize an event on your college or university campus, please visit: http://www.bahai.us/childrens-rights-convention.  See the Convention on the Rights of the Child "FAQs - Myths and Facts" section for more information about the Treaty.