A First Lady’s Commitment to the Rights of Children

On February 9th, 2010, U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama launched a national campaign, “Let’s Move” in an effort to fight against childhood obesity. With national statistics showing that one in three children in the U.S. is overweight with 20% of children 6 to 11 years and 18% of children 12 to 19 years as […]

On February 9th, 2010, U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama launched a national campaign, “Let’s Move” in an effort to fight against childhood obesity. With national statistics showing that one in three children in the U.S. is overweight with 20% of children 6 to 11 years and 18% of children 12 to 19 years as obese, the healthy development of children in the U.S. is on a rapid decline. Studies have shown that children that struggle with weight issues at a young age have an increased risk of being obese adults. Obesity is linked to numerous health issues including diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Over $150 billion a year is spent on treating obesity-related illnesses.

So how does this national campaign on childhood obesity relate to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)?

Currently, the U.S. does not have a national framework in place to address child rights holistically—this includes children’s health issues; the CRC is that tool the US lacks to support both state and federal advances and improvements for children across the nation. Despite this gap, the “Let’s Move” Campaign is an example of an initiative that is in line with the possibilities of what the CRC could offer the U.S. if the commitment is there to seek ratification.

The “Let’s Move” Campaign has a four tiered approach:
– Get parents more informed about nutrition and exercise
– Improve the quality of food in schools
– Make healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families
– Focus on physical education

In this effort, the “Let’s Move” Campaign draws on articles 4, 5, 18, 24 and 27 within the CRC as a framework for supporting parents in their efforts to ensure that children achieve a “standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.” (Article 27)

The “Let’s Move” Campaign, similar to the CRC, does not take away rights of parents, but rather is a national effort to support parents with resources, facilities, and information that can better equip parents to protect and care for their children. (Article 5 and Article 18)

The CRC recognizes and emphasizes the need for integrating and building on each article within the Convention. Rights are not read in isolation, but are strengthened by the underlying principles of the CRC and holistically approached during implementation.

In the same way, the “Let’s Move” Campaign does not stop at awareness-raising with parents as its sole effort in tackling childhood obesity, but rather addresses the issue at several levels. For example, it takes a national look at America’s schools and the quality of meals provided in these schools. It challenges schools to better the food offered to children to encourage more nutritious meals and the healthy development of children. Furthermore, it intends to strengthen schools by encouraging creative initiatives that address both physical activity and nutritious meals for children, while integrating within school curriculum educational programs that empower children to choose a healthy lifestyle. (Article 24 (e) and (f)) .

To support this commitment, President Obama has put forward the Child Nutrition Act, a bill proposing $10 billion in an effort to promote nutritious school lunches. (Article 27)

President Obama has also passed the first ever Federal Task Force to provide “Optimal Coordination” between non-profits, the private sector, the government, and between parents and families to collaborate on efforts to improve services, programs, resources, and information to strengthen the healthy development of children in the U.S. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics is partnering with the U.S. Government to educate pediatricians to work more closely with families on matters concerning child nutrition and fitness. (Article 4)

First Lady, Michelle Obama emphasizes, that although the U.S. government is taking a national lead in this fight against child obesity, “the government is only a minor player in a very big approach”….the initiative is a commitment to “put in place common-sense initiatives and solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids.”

The “Let’s Move” Campaign is a commitment by the Obama Administration, that much like the CRC, puts children first. The Campaign consciously evaluates how society impacts the child; this evaluation includes: children’s role models, the schools our children attend, the lifestyles we live, the programs and services available and accessible to parents and families. Similarly, the CRC is the necessary framework that would enable the US to self-evaluate its commitment to children and strengthen areas that remain weak and could hinder a child’s well-being in the areas of health, education, protection, participation, etc.

We can see the potential of the CRC at work through the implementation of the “Let’s Move” Campaign as the Campaign:
1) Empowers children, families and schools
2) Financially supports increased spending on healthy initiatives for children
3) Encourages schools to address the issue holistically, and
4) Raises awareness by partnering with: civil society, public and private sectors, government, parents and families

Launching initiatives like the “Let’s Move” Campaign is an example of America’s joint promise to empower families to better protect and provide the best possible care for their children. Imagine if every issue affecting children in this nation had the same promise and momentum behind it. The Administration certainly has the will and clearly, with the “Let’s Move” Campaign serving as an example to address childhood obesity, there is a way.

It is time for the U.S. Senate to embrace this bi-partisan goal of U.S. ratification of the CRC.

Jessica A. Lenz is an international Child Protection Specialist who represents the Campaign for US Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Campaign is a is a volunteer-driven network of over 900 academics, attorneys, child and human rights advocates, educators, members of religious and faith-based communities, physicians, representatives from non-governmental organizations, students, and other concerned citizens who seek to bring about U.S. ratification and implementation of the CRC. To find out more information about the Campaign or to join the Campaign’s listserv and membership, please visit www.childrightscampaign.org or email, crc@childrightscampaign.org

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Original source : http://mediavoicesforchildren.org/?p=4137…