International children's rights: Can they make a difference in American family policy?

Abstract

The United States' actual and potential use of international children's rights' standards are detailed, and the substance and aspirations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (U.N. General Assembly, 1989) with current U.S. family policy and jurisprudence are compared. The examination highlights the importance of considering diverse forums and forces that may influence the eventual implementation of children's international human rights. The analysis also underscores the striking divergence between international and U.S. approaches to children's rights. The author concludes that current efforts to play down differences and obligations create a danger of making eventual ratification of international children's rights' treaties a Pyrrhic victory, if any.