The UNCRC is important because it shows that America is serious about the rights and safety of children. The articles in the UNCRC promote children's physical and mental health, their safety, and protection from and by the government. It allows them to have a right to play and not to be used, for example sex trafficking and child soldiers. The UNCRC has 5 umbrella rights that the other articles fall under. It includes rights for any person under the age of 18. There is no discrimination. The government must act in the best interest of the child. The government is responsible for upholding the UNCRC and must respect the rights of families to raise their children the way they see fit, within the confines of the law.

There are fears based on misconceptions of the UNCRC, such that Americans will lose their parental authority or that they will not be able to tell their children what religion they must be. this is not true because the UNCRC recognizes the privacy of families and the importance of children growing up in their own families. The UNCRC is a guideline for the government. The articles are directed toward government action not rules and regulations of parents. Another concern is that it will override national sovereignty, but it cannot do that because nothing overrides the Constitution of the United States. If there ended up being any issues, every country has the right to nullify their ratification. The United States has ratified treaties that were far more jaw dropping and intimidating than this one.The way it works is the U.S. would document every 5 years and report to the UN. The UN will view the documented reports and give advise to each country based on their reports. The goal is to encourage countries to modify their laws so that children receive the most optimal rights they possibly can.

The United States and Somalia are the only two countries who have yet to ratify this treaty. The United States has already signed it. All we have to do is ratify it to make it official. If for no other reason, the U.S. should ratify for the children because they are the unheard voices in this situation. The voting public should speak for the children and encourage President Obama to Ratify this. It can only help not hurt. Children's rights are not scary, they are necessary.