What is the International Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The International Convention on the Rights of the Child (ICRC) is an international treaty that addresses the rights of children in a comprehensive manner. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 and has since been ratified by all but two countries — the United States and Somalia. It has become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. The Convention outlines the civil, political, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of children and places an emphasis on the importance of protecting children from all forms of abuse. It also emphasizes the need for governments to ensure that every child has access to basic education, health care, and other vital services. The ICRC is a legally binding instrument, meaning that countries that have ratified it are legally obligated to implement it. Under the treaty, all countries that have ratified it must ensure the rights of children are respected, protected, and fulfilled. This includes providing effective remedies against any violations of the rights that are outlined in the treaty. The ICRC has been important in the fight to protect children’s rights in California and other parts of the U.S. Several of the rights outlined in the Convention, including the right to education, the right to freedom from exploitation, and the right to freedom of thought and expression, are incorporated into California state laws and policies. In addition, the ICRC has been used in California courts as a benchmark for determining whether certain state laws or procedures comply with international standards of justice.

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What is the International Convention on the Rights of the Child?

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