Thirty years ago, the world made a promise to all its children. When the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on November 20, 1989, they committed to do everything in their power to promote and protect children’s rights. Although the United States was a major author of the CRC, the United States remains the only country in the world that has NOT ratified the Convention – at a time when children’s rights are at grave risk at home and abroad.

“The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a luminous living document that enshrines the rights of every child without exception to a life of dignity and self-fulfillment.” – Nelson Mandela

Table of Contents:

Each section contains educational material, advocacy options and multimedia that can be used to educate and advocate for children’s rights. (Click on subject to jump to section materials)

• Convention on the Rights of the Child 30th Anniversary
• Climate Change
• Ending Gun Violence
• Children in Detention in the U.S. Immigration System
• Voter Registration
• Homeless Youth in Los Angeles

Convention on the Rights of the Child 30th Anniversary

• Convention on the Rights of the Child: complete text and simplified version
• Convention on the Rights of the Child FAQ (UNICEF)
• Q&A The Convention on the Rights of the Child (HRW)
• 20th Anniversary of the CRC Toolkit

Advocacy Opportunities:

• Reach out to City Councils and challenge the Councils about protecting rights of homeless youth.
  • Return STF delegations to LA City Council , Santa Monica City Council, Santa Clarita City Council to renew commitment to their adoption of the CRC in 2009. (Ex. Work with LA Councilman Mike Bonin’s office.)
  • Da Vinci and Culver City HS could send delegations to their respective city councils in El Segundo and Culver City.
• Meet with Senator Feinstein’s staff, or Senator Harris’ staff and urge their support of the ratification of the CRC.

Videos

Climate Change

Human Rights Lens

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3: Right to Life, Liberty and Personal Security
• Convention on the Rights of the Child:
  • Article 3: Protection of Best Interests
  • Article 6: Right to Survival and Development
  • Article 24: Right to Health and Health Services

Resources

• HRW Environmental Division
• NEW: “Like A Sunburn on Your Lungs”: How Does the Climate Crisis Impact Health?
• Greta Thunberg TIME 100 Most Influential People
• NEW: 17 Climate Change Solutions You Can Do Yourself
• NEW: Climate Crisis Fast Facts

Advocacy Opportunities:

• Global Strike for Climate website – Determine some way to participate in the Global Strike for Climate (September 20 and 27) on or off campus
• Participate in Heal the Bay’s Coastal Clean-Up Day – September 21.
• Survey campus regarding clubs and teachers who teach about climate crisis.
• Create a teach-in on climate crisis for students and an evening program for parents and community.
• Challenge everyone to pledge a personal action they will make to address climate crisis or environmental issues.
• Organize campaign to make school plastic free, urge local markets to become plastic bag free, etc.

Videos

Ending Gun Violence

Human Rights Lens

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
  • Article 3: Right to Life, Liberty and Personal Security
  • Article 26: Right to Education
• Convention on the Rights of the Child:
  • Article 3: Protection of Best Interests
  • Article 6: Right to Survival and Development
  • Article 24: Right to Health and Health Services
  • Articles 28 & 29: Right to Education

Resources

• Brady: “Gun Violence in the United States”
• Everytown for Gun Safety: “The Impact of Gun Violence on Children and Teens”
• Ending Gun Violence in Our Schools Toolkit

Advocacy Opportunities:

• March for Our Lives Peace website
  • March for Our Lives Plan Executive Summary Excerpt
• Everytown for Gun Safety website

Videos

Separation of Families and Children in Detention in U.S. Immigration

Human Rights Lens

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
  • Article 2: Freedom from Discrimination
  • Article 3: Right to Life, Liberty and Personal Security
  • Article 5: Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
  • Article 12: Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
  • Article 14: Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
  • Article 26: Right to Education
• Convention on the Rights of the Child:
  • Article 2: Freedom from Discrimination
  • Article 3: Protection of Best Interests
  • Article 5: Respect for Parental Guidance and Evolving Capacities
  • Article 6: Right to Survival and Development
  • Article 9: Freedom from Separation from Parents
  • Article 10: Obligation for Family Reunification
  • Article 19: Protection from Abuse and Neglect
  • Article 24: Right to Health and Health Services
  • Articles 28 & 29: Right to Education
  • Article 37: Freedom from Torture and Deprivation of Liberty

Resources

• HRW U.S. Immigration
• HRW: “Trump Administration Blocks Needed Oversight of Immigration Detention”
• HRW: “Suit Over Indefinite Detention of Children”
• CBS News: “Watchdog Details Psychological Trauma Among Migrant Children Separated from Families”
• NEW: “A place without family” – Children who cross the border, in their own words (testimonies)
• Human Rights on the Southern Border Toolkit

Advocacy Opportunities:

• Keep updated on human rights violations
• Congressional advocacy
  • Follow progress of stalled Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act (H.R.2415 and S.1243)

Videos

Voter Registration

Human Rights Lens:

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 21: Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections

Resources

• California Pre-Registration Information
• California High School Voter Education Weeks Best Practices from County Elections Officials
• California Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment Text

Videos

Homeless Youth in Los Angeles

Human Rights Lens

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
  • Article 2: Freedom from Discrimination
  • Article 3: Right to Life, Liberty and Personal Security
  • Article 5: Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
  • Article 17: Right to Own Property
  • Article 22: Right to Social Security
  • Article 24: Right to Rest and Leisure
  • Article 25: Right to Adequate Standard of Living
• Convention on the Rights of the Child:
  • Article 2: Freedom from Discrimination
  • Article 3: Protection of Best Interests
  • Article 6: Right to Survival and Development
  • Article 19: Protection from Abuse and Neglect
  • Article 20: Protection of Children Without Family
  • Article 24: Right to Health and Health Services
  • Article 27: Right to Adequate Standard of Living
  • Article 31: Right to Rest, Leisure, Recreation and Cultural Activities
  • Article 33: Protection from Drug Abuse
  • Article 35 & 36: Freedom from Slavery and Other Forms of Exploitation

Resources

• NEW: 3 Kids, 2 Paychecks, No Home (The California Sunday Magazine)
• LA Homeless Services Authority 2019 Briefing on Youth Homelessness Key Messages
• Safe Place for Youth: “The Problem”
• LA County Youth Crisis Housing and Drop-In Services

Advocacy Opportunities:

• NEW: STF Youth Homlessness Campus Action – Getting Started: Find out from school administration what services available for homeless youth or students with food instability?  Make sure information is distributed on campus about city and county services for homeless youth.  Report back to STF Team in the HRW office.
• Invite Tamar Chafets to speak to an assembly, or to speak with chapter meeting via video chat.
• Address elected officials and urge meeting needs of homeless youth and press for prevention.