A Declaration of the Rights of Children and Families

A Declaration on the Rights of Children and Families: A Call from Children of the World

For years the UN has been calling on governments to “hear the children,” meaning to let them have a say in government, to establish mechanisms such as “children’s parliaments” for them to be heard and to even put children on their UN delegations so they can influence UN policies.

Yet anti-family UN lobbying groups and UN bureaucrats constantly hand pick children to attend UN meetings who have been carefully groomed to promote radical sexual rights and other things harmful to children. The “Bali Global Forum Youth Declaration” is a good example. (Click here to see our past report on this.)

This radical Bali Youth Declaration claims that what children and youth around the world really want are rights to abortion, to be able to express their sexuality, experience sexual pleasure, and to legalize prostitution and same-sex marriage among other things. Often these youth have little or no understanding of what they are advocating.

We know from past experience that when children honestly and sincerely present their views and concerns, it has a huge impact on policymakers. We know that they can help focus the world’s leaders on the language of existing UN documents that are now too often ignored. This is why the “Declaration on the Rights of Children and Their Families” came about.

The Declaration states that each child has a right to:

Life

A Family

A Married Mother and Father

The Protection and Guidance of Their Parents

An Education

A Religion

Innocence and Childhood

And that the Protection of Children Requires

the Protection of the Family

This Declaration was presented by a delegation of children to UN diplomats at a United Nations meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday, September 12 and will be presented at future UN meetings as well.

Surely this Declaration was meant for such a time as this as children and families from all around the world arise and call upon governments to protect their families and the right of children to grow up in a loving, stable home guided by their parents.

We urge you and/or your children to sign the “Declaration on the Rights of Children and Their Families.

Here is how you can help!

Sign the Declaration yourself.

We encourage all the adults to sign the "Declaration on the Rights of Children and Families."

Discuss this Declaration with your children.

If you are a parent, discuss this Declaration with your children who are old enough to understand its basic principles. This can be an opportunity to teach them about the importance of defending marriage and the rights of children and their families.

Help your child sign the Declaration.

If a child is old enough to understand the Declaration, and wants to sign it themselves, they may do so, but only with a parent or legal guardian’s permission.

* Older children may use their own email address with parent permission, but young children should use a parent or guardian's email address when signing.

Share the Declaration with others.

Send this link on to others whom you think might also be interested in signing the Declaration or who might encourage their children to also sign. The more people and countries represented, the more impact it will have.

Note: We request the email address of the parent or legal guardian for young children who sign the Declaration. Use of a parent or legal guardian's email address is an additional safety precaution intended to protect your child.

An adult may use their email address multiple times to sign the Declaration personally and for each child in your household.

To protect privacy, no email addresses will ever be made public and only your child’s first name and country will be distributed with any statements in support of the Declaration. Entering their last names is optional.

SIGN THE DECLARATION!

First Name *

Last Name

Please use the email address of a parent or legal guardian when signing this declaration for younger children.

Email *

Age *

Country *

PERMISSION FOR MINORS:

I am a minor. I understand the Declaration, and I am signing it with the permission of my parent or legal guardian.

Keep me informed about this and other campaigns from UN Family Rights Caucus or Family Watch International.

On behalf of children and families around the world, thank you to you and your children for supporting this important Declaration!

Declaration on the Rights of Children

and their Families

Article I: Each Child Has the Right to Life

Recognizing that every child has the inherent right to life (UNCRC Art. 6); and,

Whereas the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before, as well as after birth (UNCRC Preamble);

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations system to ensure the survival and development of children (CRC Art. 6; Children’s Summit, Art. 19).

Article II: Each Child Has the Right to a Family

Recognizing that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State (UDHR (1948), Art. 16 (3)); and

That the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding (CRC Preamble; Children’s Summit, Plan of Action, Art. 18);

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations system to protect and strengthen the institution of the family, to ensure the optimal development of children (based on Children’s Summit, Art. 14 & 20(5)).

Article III: Each Child Has the Right to a Married Mother and Father

Recognizing that children and youth who reside in a stable, intact family with a married mother and father, generally exhibit greater well-being in every measurable indicator including physically, socially, emotionally, economically and academically; and that the child shall have the right, as far as possible, to know and be cared for by his or her parents (CRC Art. 7);

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations system to discourage sexual relations and childbearing outside of the marital bond, and to promote the institution of marriage as the best environment for children.

Article IV: Each Child Has the Right to the Protection and Guidance of Their Parents

Recognizing that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child (CRC Art. 18); and

That parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children (UDHR Art. 26(3)); and

That only in cases of extreme abuse or neglect shall the State have the right to intervene in the parent/child relationship (CRC Art. 9);

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations system to respect family autonomy and the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents to direct the upbringing of their children (CRC Art. 3, 5 & 18; ICPD (1994), II, Principle 11).

Article V: Each Child Has the Right to Education

Recognizing that each child needs an education to develop the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential (CRC Art. 29.1(a)); and

That the best interests of the child shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his or her education and that this responsibility lies in the first place with the parents (ICPD (1994), II, Principle 10);

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations system to establish basic education programs for all children that are respectful of the child’s parents, and his or her own cultural identity, language and values (CRC Art. 29.1(c))

Article VI: Each Child Has the Right to a Religion

Recognizing that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to manifest their religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance (UDHR Art. 18; CRC Art. 30); and

That the introduction of children to the culture, values and norms of their society begins in the family (Children’s Summit, Plan of Action, Art. 18); and

That parents have the right to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions (ICESCR (1976) Art. 13-3; ICCPR (1976), Art. 18-4);

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations system to fully respect the right of parents to guide the moral and religious education of their children (CRC Art. 14).

Article VII: Each Child Has the Right to Innocence and Childhood

Recognizing that the rights enumerated in this declaration are legitimate universal protection rights that belong to every child;

Noting, with alarm, the increasing international trend to grant autonomous adult rights to children prematurely;

That children have a right to enjoy their childhood free of adult concerns and responsibilities; and

Being greatly concerned by the increase of sexual education programs that encourage children and youth to experiment and engage in sexual behavior;

We call upon States Parties and the United Nations System to respect the right of parents to guide the sex education of their children (ICESCR (1976) Art. 13-3; ICCPR (1976), Art. 18-4) and to cease promoting or supporting programs that condone or encourage sexual activity among children.

Article VIII: The Protection of Children Requires the Protection of the Family

Recognizing that for the full protection of the rights of the child and the family enumerated in this declaration, all governments must fulfill their legal obligation to protect the institution of the family (based on UDHR Art. 16(3); ICPD (1994), II, Principle 9; ICESR (1976), Art. 10-1; ICCPR (1976), Art. 23-1; Children’s Summit, 14; CRC Preamble; Disabilities (2996), Preamble (x));

Therefore we call upon all UN Member States and the United Nations system to mainstream a family perspective in all laws, policies and programs, and to ensure the rights of parents are recognized in all governmental actions impacting their children.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]