Child Execution

The execution of children, any government’s imposition of the death penalty on those younger than 18 years, was not fully eradicated in the U.S. until 2005. The U.S. Supreme Court case finally banning the practice, Roper v. Simmons, determined that crimes committed from a qualitatively different level of maturity could not receive such final and irreversible punishments. In the dissenting opinion, Justice Scalia criticized the ruling based on an argument of national sovereignty. He insisted that the U.S. should be the “sole arbiter of our Nation’s moral standards,” and that the decision was attributable to foreign courts and international influence.

Looking back at Roper v. Simmons, it seems that the sharing of international norms can be a good thing; ending child execution being only one example. The prohibition of child execution is an international norm, and can be found in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). If the U.S. were to finally ratify the CRC, our nation would likely benefit from further areas of exchange and catch up in more areas in relation to the rights of the child.

Like other child rights violations, the practice of child execution is still occurring internationally. If the U.S. were to ratify the treaty, it may have a stronger foundation to fight this practice elsewhere.

Currently there are five countries that still allow child executions: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, and Iran. Iran has stood far in the lead. Last year, there were 8 child executions, and another just last month. On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Rahim Ahmadi, who was 15 at the time his crime was committed, was executed, apparently for killing a man in self-defense.

"the day before the incident happened, Reza and two of his friends confronted me. They beat me and ran away and of course, I hit them back. The next day, the three of them came after me again. I was standing at my front door, when they attacked me. I managed to grab a knife away from one of them. In self-defense, I stabbed Reza. I had not planned to kill anyone and if I had not hit Reza, they would have hit me". – Rahim (Stop Child Executions News and Updates)

In order to read more about Rahim's story go to http://scenews.blog.com/.

Given this human right; given that acts of youth should not be judged at the same level of maturity and decision making as adults, it is disappointing that so many others like Rahim will face the same consequences in Iran and elsewhere.

Despite Rahim’s story, Iran has made mild progress in the direction of abolishing child executions. Unlike the U.S., Iran has ratified the CRC. There has subsequently been pressure from the international community to end the practice. In Iran’s attempted to follow through with its treaty obligations, Iranian leaders have seriously considered a ban, although it is not clear that it will cover all crimes. Based on recommendations from the UN, they have also established special courts for children.

There is still a long way to go for Iran, and when it comes to the rights of the child, almost every other country has room for substantial progress. All nations have room to grow in a vast number of areas in relation to the rights of the child. The voices of children are often ones that are left unheard. Through international cooperation, mutual exchange, and shared checks and balances, every nation can put its values in better line with the needs of the world’s children.

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Lynette Go and Brad Olson, Northwestern University, Rights for Our Future

The New Child Health Insurance Bill Provides Momentum for the Systemic Reform of Child Rights in the US

In last year’s campaign for the U.S. Presidency, Barack Obama admirably deemed himself as "a champion for children." Given his recent child advocacy plan, he has begun to show a serious intention to live up to that title. In the plan, he has promised that every child will be granted health insurance. The plan will also expand educational opportunities for children in low-income families, extend other necessary resources for these families, support and supplement the foster care system, and provide better protections for children within the U.S. from violence and neglect.

Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) states that it is the right of a child to enjoy the highest attainable standards of health. Consistent with this crucial Convention, on February 4, 2009 President Obama signed the Children's Health Insurance Bill. The recently passed Child Health Insurance Bill expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to increase coverage to 11.1 million children. Currently SCHIP provides coverage for 7 million children who are otherwise ineligible to receive Medicaid. This action is in line with an eventual goal to secure health insurance for every child within the U.S.

In contrast to the Bush Administration, within weeks of being in office, the new administration can be said to have well surpassed the previous administration's accomplishments in supporting child rights. The past administration not only failed to advocate for the expansion of child health care but when the legislation presented itself in near finality, the initiative was vetoed. Since August 2007, the U.S. House has voted at least seven times in favor of an expansion to child health insurance but without exception, with heavy-hands and dulled consciences, these efforts were thwarted by the Bush Administration. President Bush himself, alone, vetoed two similar bills that proposed the expansion of health care coverage for children.

Given the common goals of the CRC and the Obama-Biden Child Advocacy plan, it is time for the new administration to the international system to work with the U.S. and all other nations on its policies for the health and well-being of the child. As Nancy Pelosi stated on the passing of the Child Advocacy plan: "This is the beginning of the change that the American people voted for in the last election, and that we will achieve with President Barack Obama."

Now that the expansion of child rights is in the air, this may be the best opportunity for the U.S. to ratify the CRC and its universal approach to promoting the well-being of all children. Like the current Obama Administration efforts, the CRC emphasizes the importance of the mental and physical health of the child as well as the necessity of preventive health care. Child advocates of all shapes and forms, should work in concert toward the final ratification of the CRC. We the American people are now responsible for helping President Obama work toward the fulfillment of his campaign promises, and demonstrate to him that indeed, U.S. children, and all the children of the world, are at the top of our priority list. Now is the time to press Washington to ratify the CRC.

--Julie Kornfeld and Brad Olson, Northwestern University, Rights for Our Future