The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child: An Analysis of Treaty Provisions And Implications of U.S. Ratification

This in-depth text goes beyond the rhetoric of the debate on children's rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular, and provides a detailed examination of the impact that U.S. ratification of the Convention would have on U.S. law. The chapters have been written by leading children's advocates and scholars with a general audience in mind, as the authors believe that it is important for all Americans to become informed about the Convention and about children's rights in general. With a greater understanding of the substance of the Convention and children's rights, readers will be better positioned to determine what the real issues are, what is simply rhetoric without any basis in fact or law, and how they can address the real issues in an effective manner in order to provide a better world for all children. The book is divided broadly-speaking into two sections. The first part of the book provides an introduction to the Convention, examines the key issues of debate with respect to U.S. ratification, and explores many of the overarching themes that arise in the context of U.S. consideration of the Convention, or any other international instrument for that matter. The remainder of the book is dedicated to more in-depth examinations of various provisions of the Convention, with a view to determining the impact of U.S. ratification of the Convention with respect to those issues in particular.

Jonathan Todres is an Acting Assistant Professor at New York University School of Law. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on children’s rights and health law. Professor Todres serves as Co-Chair of the Subcommittee on the Rights of the Child of the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law, Chair of the Section’s International Health Law Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Section’s International Human Rights Committee. Mark E. Wojcik is a Professor of Law and Director of the Global Legal Studies program at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, where his courses include Public International Law and International Human Rights Law. He previously served as Co-Chair of the International Human Rights Committee of the American Bar Association Section of International Law. Cris R. Revaz is Of Counsel with King and Spalding, LLP in Washington, D.C. He is co-chair of the Subcommittee on the Rights of the Child of the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law, and previously served as Co-Chair of the Section’s International Human Rights Committee. Mr. Revaz is a board member or advisor to several non-profits focusing on child rights, protection and adoption.