Convention on Children’s Rights
* Contrary to what David Horowitz would like to believe (Commentary, Nov. 26), it’s not because of some high-minded stand for principle that the U.S. is today one of the only two nations on Earth to not ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, but instead a campaign of scare stories by far-right anti-U.N. activists. Contrary to what is claimed, the convention recognizes the importance of family and parents. As for it being “unenforceable,” a Nov. 18 article described how many nations are making the convention part of their legal codes.
Horowitz is flat-out wrong in claiming the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights “was supported and ratified by Josef Stalin”: The Soviet Union abstained when it passed the General Assembly because it supported property ownership and never publicized it to its populace.
JOHN W. OSBORN JR.
Member, Board of Directors
Southern California Division
United Nations Assn. of the U.S.A.
*
* The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children under 15 cannot be recruited, conscripted or made to participate in armed conflict. Every country in the U.N. has signed the convention--except Somalia and the United States.
SANFORD ROTHMAN
Los Angeles
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
