The treatment and protection of children is an ongoing conversation around the world, not only in the United States. The United Nations acts as an international advisory body, providing insight and resources to global communities surrounding essential topics. In the 1980s, they produced guidelines for the rights of the child. The United States participated heavily in this process, contributing many clauses to the convention drawn from U.S. legislation. However, the U.S. ultimately decided not to ratify the convention. It remains the only member of the United Nations not to do so after South Sudan and Somalia affirmed the statute in 2015. Some United States lawmakers believe that the treaty would interfere with the rights of families to make choices about discipline or medical care for their children. Additionally, they are concerned that the treaty opposes juvenile incarceration and disallows the practice of trying a child as an adult in court.

Document B

Excerpts from “Convention on the Rights of the Child.” Ratified by the United Nations in November of 1989. The United States remains the only nation to not ratify the convention.

“Article 12

1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law…

Article 13

1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice…

Article 14

1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Article 15

1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly."