The Honorable Barack H. Obama

President of the United States of America

White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As leaders of American nonprofit organizations that work in support of children and families both here in the United States and abroad, we urge you to send the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to the U.S. Senate for ratification.

Around the world, the CRC is an important tool to promote protections and rights for the most vulnerable and marginalized children, and to support the importance of families and parents. I believe that it will strengthen our Nation’s ability to help children overseas, and provide a framework to help us better address challenges facing children and families here at home. Mr. President, you are a champion for human rights and for children’s rights. As you know, the United States stands with Somalia as the only holdouts from ratifying the CRC, the most widely accepted human rights instrument in history. The conspicuous absence of the United States as a party to the CRC undermines our Nation’s international leadership role on behalf of children and families.

The United States cannot move forward on ratification, however, unless the President submits this treaty to the Senate for its advice and consent. Although Administration officials have promised to review the treaty, there is no specific timeframe for submitting it to the Senate. I ask you to submit the CRC to the Senate by the next Universal Children’s Day. The United Nations and its member countries observe this day annually to promote the welfare and protection of the world’s children. By sending the CRC to the Senate, Mr. President, you will demonstrate your commitment to the values enshrined in the treaty.

Sincerely,

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