Rights Disappear When US Policy Engages Children as Weapons of Deterrence

In 1989, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which the United States provided significant guidance in drafting. The CRC focused on those under 18 years of age, recognizing the rights most other international conventions and declarations accorded to adults. This article explores the ethical and health implications of the United States' failure to ratify the CRC with an emphasis on refugees. Federal policies have led to separation of families, mass detention of children and families, and accelerated removal, revealing the United States' disregard for global concern about children and families. By failing to ratify the CRC, the United States not only abdicates moral leadership, but also invites other nations to emulate its lack of care for children.