US yet to sign UN child rights treaty 20 years on – 20 Nov 09
It has been 20 yaers since the United Nations adopted a treaty amied at protecting the rights of childern around the world.
The Convention for the Rights of the Children has been ratified by every country except Somalia which has not had a functioning government for most of the last two decades and the US.
Barack Obama, the US president, has said he wants to change that, but he faces opposition from congress.
Critics say the convention places the rights of children above their parents and is anti-family. Others cite sovereignty issues.
But rights groups dismiss those criticsims as unfounded.
Al Jazeera’s Cath Turner reports from the United Naitons in New York City.