United Nations – Children’s Rights (1990)

1989 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Child. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance.

1. The situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of inadequate social conditions, natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitations, illiteracy, hunger and disability.
2. The family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.
3. The child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and, in particular, in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.
4. Children’s rights require special protection.

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism supports the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and urges the U.S. Government to ratify the Convention on the Right of the Child and to take appropriate action to implement its provisions.