RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
#DENASolidarity
The Lasallian mission thrives to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor. The 43rd General Chapter in 2000 emphasized that defending the rights of children should become a major focus and concern for all. With children at the heart of the mission, Lasallians are encouraged to take advantage of new and existing resources support the rights of children worldwide. (lasalle.org)
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
1. Preserve funding to nutrition programs that alleviate hunger. Congress needs to pass appropriations that maintain essential funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Assistance Program (DSFP), and the Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) program among others. Many families and individuals continue to suffer from hunger. In 2017, approximately 1 in 8 households in the US were food-insecure. See UNCRC Article 24.1c Article 27.3 or contact Anthony Grando, USCCB Office of Domestic Social development, agranado@usccb.org
2. Human Trafficking H.R. 836: To establish the Interdiction for the Protection of Child Victims of Exploitation and Human Trafficking Program to train law enforcement officers to identify and assist victims of child exploitation and human trafficking.
S. 251: Interdiction for the Protection of Child Victims of Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act A bill to establish the Interdiction for the Protection of Child Victims of Exploitation and Human Trafficking Program to train law enforcement officers to identify and assist victims of child exploitation and human trafficking. See congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senatebill/251 (UNCRC Articles 32-40) and sistersagainsttrafficking.org
All suggested legislative actions are in alignment with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Learn more about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (see resources below)
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Plan to celebrate Universal Children’s Day on November 20
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Contact members of your Congressional delegation regarding the legislation above
RESOURCES
Fondazione De La Salle Solidarietá Internazionale ONLUS (International Lasallian Solidarity Foundation), a nonprofit that sponsors international projects and coordinates a network of Lasallian development organizations around the world, for the empowerment of children through education.
Lasallian Women of Hope provides grants to grassroots, community based organizations that provide access to girls and young women to a Lasallian education. Learn more here
This year we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). November 20, 1989 is when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This day has become known as Universal Children’s Day. Its 1989 approval follows the United Nations’ November 20, 1959, adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The CRC is a multilateral human rights treaty that promotes the rights of children worldwide, incorporating the full range of human rights (civil, cultural, economic, political, and social) into a single document. The CRC is the first legally binding international text of its kind and calls upon political and religious leaders, as well as civil society organizations, to move toward achieving real progress in the protection of child rights. The United States is the only nation that has not ratified the CRC.