United States Senator Richard Shelby, Alabama

I have grave concerns about the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a United Nations treaty that seeks to establish rights for all children and require that these rights be recognized throughout the world.  While these are noble goals, CRC could severely restrict the influence that parents have on their children's choice of religion.  This treaty would also give anyone under the age of 18 unprecedented rights to privacy and access to information that would hinder the efforts of parents who want nothing more than to protect their children from the sex, drugs, and violence that have become prevalent in the media.

I firmly believe that our children are our nation's greatest asset, but I do not believe that the United Nations, an organization that is wrought with poor leadership and fiscal irresponsibility, should be setting the standards for the proper upbringing of America's children.  The United States already has a long history of enacting laws to protect our children without placing restrictive mandates on their parents, as CRC would do. 
                                                                                                               
During the 111th Congress, Senate Resolution 519, introduced by Senator Jim DeMint, sought to express the sense of the Senate that the U.S. Constitution is the primary safeguard for the rights of American children and that the President should not transmit CRC to the Senate for ratification.  Maintaining the ability of fit parents to raise their children is of the utmost importance.  This resolution will have to be reintroduced during the 112th Congress to receive consideration.  You may rest assured that I will support this resolution should it be brought before the full Senate for consideration.