[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, on February 16, Ambassador Madeleine 
Albright signed the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. The 
United States joined 175 other countries that have signed and/or 
ratified the Convention. The next step would be for the administration 
to send the Convention--and a statement of any reservations and 
understandings--to the Senate for our advice and consent.
  Mr. President, in the past several days, I have received thousands of 
calls from all over the country in opposition to this Convention. My 
office has not received one call for it. These contacts have raised 
many serious problems that need to be examined. They have raised 
questions about Articles 13, 14, and 15, which grant children the 
freedom of speech, thought, conscience, religion, association, and 
assembly. Could these articles be interpreted to limit the ability of 
parents to decide for themselves how best to raise their children? 
Should U.S. citizens be subject to some sort of international committee 
that enforces compliance with Article 28(2) which states: ``State 
Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that school 
discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child's 
human dignity and in conformity with the present Convention''?
  Under Article VI of the Constitution, Senate ratification of this 
treaty would make it the supreme law of the land. Would the Convention 
then supersede Federal and State laws? What would the effect of the 
Convention be on the tenth amendment? Is the Convention merely a 
symbolic exercise, or will it actually require the United States to 
take actions? These are sincere questions from sincere people. They 
deserve answers.
  Mr. President, I realize the original intent of the Convention was to 
protect children from such abuses as forced labor and to improve the 
situation for those children in many parts of the world. No doubt about 
it, many children around the world face unbearable and unacceptable 
conditions every day. And for these children, a properly crafted 
document could provide some much needed relief.
  However, I also believe we in the United States have made significant 
progress in protecting the rights of the child through Federal, State, 
and local laws. These laws are better equipped to deal with the varying 
challenges posed by the issue of child rights. If there is one thing 
this election taught us, it is the need to get excessive government out 
of people's lives. This applies to the Federal government, and it 
certainly applies to the multilateral, quasi-government that is the 
U.N.
  I don't know the administration's timeable for sending the Convention 
to the Senate for advice and consent. When submitted, it will be 
referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations--where I am 
certain it will receive the careful review it deserves. However, until 
all the questions that thousands of Americans have about the Convention 
are satisfactorily answered, I will not support ratification of this 
Convention.

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