Mike Farris:
On the last program, we introduced the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child—known as the CRC. While the use of any international law for domestic purposes in the United States is a threat to American self-government, proponents of parental rights should pay the most close attention to the CRC—especially since it appears that significant effort on this treaty will be made under the Obama administration.

So what does the CRC actually say about the rights of children?

Article 3 subsection 1 provides that in all actions concerning children, all decision-makers need to employ the legal standard known as the best interests of the child. What this means is that the government can substitute what it thinks best for that of the parents in every situation.

Article 12 subsection 1 declares that the child’s views must be taken into account in every situation. When we read further, it means, taken into account by the government, because they’re the ultimate decision-makers.

In two very important areas of parental choice—religion and education—the CRC interferes with parental choice and elevates a child’s wishes over that of the parent. Realistically, it is neither parents nor children who make the final decision in the case of conflict—it is the state that has the power and duty under the CRC to make ultimate choices for kids.

I’m Mike Farris.