CHURCHWOMAN News and Updates
Updated 1/15/08

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2008 NATIONAL ACTION PROJECT
"A World Fit for Children"

 

Church Women United announces the launching of “Building a World Fit for Children”, its innovative 2008 National Action Project to be carried out among its 1,200 local units across the country. The Action Project urges all CWU units to sponsor the 2008 CWU Human Rights Celebration and to present awards to 1,000 persons throughout the U.S. who work locally for the rights of children. The National Action Project will also continue the CWU advocacy for U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child through petitions and intergenerational art projects. It also urges participation in hands-on projects that benefit children. More...

PHASE 2 FOR U.S. RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON
THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Letter to all members about using the creativity of our children

Flyer for "Building a World Fit for Children"
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Myths and Facts about "The Convention on the Rights of the Child"

 

65th ANNIVERSARY OF CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

CLICK HERE for opportunities from the Action/Global Concerns Committee.

 

THE PETITION ON THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

As of early June 2006, more than 1,000 signatures on copies of the Petition have been sent to the President. For more information, read the following article from the CWU Legislative Office.

THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
FLESHING OUT GOD’S KINGDOM ON EARTH

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the child has been called “an instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social”… into the fabric of society. It is, simply, a powerful instrument for justice for children. In 1989, leaders from many nations realized that children (people under 18 years of age) have special needs for care and protection. Their vision came to be in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. To date, the United States and Somalia alone have failed to ratify this treaty.

As Christians, this issue is of paramount importance as we all envision God’s kingdom on earth where justice is met for all and especially for those for whom scripture speaks in the strongest terms, that is: children. (“Let the children come to me, and don’t try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom.” Matthew 19.14) Countless men and women around the world in NGO’s and churches, in governments and schools, are striving to flesh out God’s kingdom on earth for children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child has already proved to be a valuable instrument. In Egypt, early child immunization rates have increased 95% since 1996. Improvements such as these are the fruits of the inspiration that the Convention on the Rights of the Child provide. Nations who have ratified the Convention must report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child which is a body of experts who are charged with monitoring the implementation of the Convention. Information about this body and the Convention itself can be found on the Unicef website (www.unicef.org). 

The CWU Petition on the Convention on the Rights of the Child urges ratification of the Convention by the United States. The ratification of treaties is the business of the Senate at the urging of the President. Church Women United members at this time are continuing to obtain signatures on the Petition on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and sending them on to the President as part of CWU 2006 Celebrations actions and also in celebration of the 65th Anniversary of CWU. Copies of the petitions are coming in from all over the country to the CWU Legislative Office. You are encouraged to participate. If you have not signed on nor seen the Petition, contact your CWU State President, obtain a copy of the previous issue of Churchwoman News, or contact the CWU Legislative Office. (You may call 1-800 298-5551, follow the prompt and leave a message for the Legislative Office asking for a copy of the petition and giving your mailing address.) NOTE: The best way to send signed petitions to the President is via fax to the following fax number at the White House: 202/456-2461.