Children’s Rights are Human Rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times when addressing international trade and sustainability issues, various U.N. initiatives and policies, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ are discussed.

As we witness global immigration challenges currently reported in the following NYT articles:

“It’s Horrendous: The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/us/children-immigration-borders-family-separation.html,

“Taking Immigrant Children From Parents is Illegal, U.N. Tells U.S.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/world/americas/us-un-migrant-children-families.html, and

“Scorned Migrant Boat Exposes Raw Feelings Among Allies,” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/world/europe/migrant-boat-italy-france.html,

reviewing the U.N. “Convention on the Rights of a Child” https://www.unicef.org.au/Upload/UNICEF/Media/Our%20work/childfriendlycrc.pdf is timely.

During her speech to the U.N. Conference on Women in 1995, Hillary Clinton declared that “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.”  It is also fitting to state that “human rights are children’s rights, and children’s rights are human rights.”

Written by Dr. Shireen Musa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIT, State University of New York

67 thoughts on “Children’s Rights are Human Rights

  1. I think this is a heartwarming and inspiring story that highlights the positive impact of Fair Trade initiatives on the lives of individuals and communities. Paul Rice’s experience with Jean-Marie, the Rwandan coffee farmer, illustrates how Fair Trade can be a powerful force for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. Jean-Marie’s journey from receiving pennies for his coffee cherries to being able to sell his product directly and earn a fair price is a testament to the transformative potential of Fair Trade. It not only improved his family’s financial situation but also enabled him to send his children to school, something that many families take for granted but can be a significant challenge in some regions. Jean-Marie’s messages are simple yet powerful, emphasizing the importance of conscious consumer choices and spreading the word about Fair Trade. It’s a reminder that every purchase we make can have a real impact on the lives of individuals like Jean-Marie and their communities.

    Furthermore, the Fair Trade co-op’s inclusive approach, encompassing benefits like health insurance and clean water access for the entire community, highlights the far-reaching positive effects of such initiatives. Paul Rice’s impassioned call to consumers and his faith in their capacity to drive positive change globally serves as a compelling call to reflect on the ethical and societal consequences of our buying choices. This underscores the power of even minor actions to catalyze substantial and constructive transformations. It is inspiring to witness individuals and groups collaborating under the banner of Fair Trade, striving to create a meaningful impact on the world. The Fair Trade model not only promotes economic fairness but also emphasizes the importance of holistic community well-being. For me, I believe Paul Rice’s message serves as a testament to the potential for conscious consumerism to contribute to a more equitable and socially responsible world.

  2. After reading the article,”Taking Immigrant Children From Parents Is Illegal, U.N. Tell U.S.”, it’s truly heartbreaking to read about the separation of children from their families at the U.S. border. The United Nations’ statement highlighting that this practice violates children’s rights and international law is a significant reminder of the humanitarian aspect of the issue. The response from the U.S. administration suggests a deep divide on the matter, but regardless of the political debate, it’s important to remember that children are caught in the middle of this situation. These young lives are being deeply affected by policies and decisions beyond their control. The call to halt this practice and to prioritize the care and protection of migrant children is a plea for empathy and compassion. Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment, and their well-being should always be the foremost consideration.

    The United States’ failure to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child sets it apart from the rest of the world, prompting questions about its dedication to global child rights standards. Amidst the legal complexities surrounding this issue, the primary concern should revolve around finding compassionate and ethical solutions that prioritize the welfare of the children affected. The ACLU’s class-action lawsuit and advocacy for family reunification represent positive steps towards addressing this critical matter. It is imperative for individuals from diverse backgrounds to unite in ensuring the safeguarding of these children’s rights and putting an end to their suffering. The international community should continue to pressure the United States to align itself with the global consensus on children’s rights and protections. I think the well-being and rights of children should transcend political differences and remain a shared moral imperative.

  3. I read the article “Convention on the Rights of a Child”. This convention highlights children’s rights. From my point of view, children’s rights are part of human rights.
    Children’s rights are very important. I personally think that all children should have the right to life and be treated as such. Poverty is very prevalent and people from all over the world are suffering from this as well.There are so many children who are facing child labor and exploitation for years and there are zero to no solutions happening. The U.S is known for doing trading with many countries around the world. As a country, we trade and do a lot of business with other countries and I think it’s only right that they provide the help when needed. This should influence us to want to help out to get these people out of poverty. Those who are destitute.I think that donating and helping out is a great start.

    We have been hearing about sustainability in the Fashion Industry and it overlaps in all ITM courses.This relates back to ITM because we learn all about CSR in the supply chain.The FIT community should take note of the efforts of these organizations and consider how they can contribute to the fight against child exploitation. As ITM majors, it’s our responsibility to be cognizant of these issues and to integrate ethical practices into our future careers, whether it be through promoting fair labor standards, sustainable sourcing, or transparent supply chain management. Also,Learning about how certain fabrics use more water or more chemicals was super informative to know about and be aware of. I am super elated to now have the knowledge that many don’t have.I really agree with the fact that children’s rights are human rights. Children are the future for our society, so they should be treated and have the same privileges like other children. Not implementing these types of rights only shows us where our priorities are; it makes us feel wicked and cruel. .

  4. After reading the article, “Taking Immigrant Children From Parents is Illegal, U.N. Tells U.S.” I found some interesting point of views. I believe separating children from their parents is unethical. Things like this are the reason why children face a lot of trauma. There are ways to go about immigration but I believe this is a terrible one. There are thousands of cases like this all the time. The attention of the US doing this to the illegal immigrants in Mexico has risen. I feel as if people know it is unethical.
    Taking children away from their parents is an act of human rights violation. I think it goes beyond the thought of a child. This is trauma and puts children in positions where there is no choice. I think it violates many International human rights laws. It seems backwards to have acts like this. The practice is unethical and overall traumatizing.

  5. Children’s rights are human rights. Children are the most vulnerable group that requires protection, care, and constant support. They have the same fundamental rights as adults, such as the right to life, freedom of expression, and the right to education. However, children due have certain rights that are unique to heir age and development, such as right to play, right to family, and the right to protection from harm. Not only has these regulations been practiced as other countries have also adapted to some these laws. These rights were implemented in the United National Convention on the rights of the Child, which was passed in 1989 and has been ratified by 196 countries.

    However, despite the recognition of children rights, millions of children around the world encounter abuse, neglect, and exploitation. And many are denied from basic necessities such as healthcare, education, adequate nutrition. It saddens me to think about the harsh reality of some of these issues in society. Children from marginalized communities, like girls, children with disabilities, and indigenous children are often more vulnerable to violations of their rights. Therefore, it is imperative to protect and spread awareness about this topic. Children are the future of our societies and their well-being plays a vital role for creating a just and sustainable world.

  6. The article explores the psychological trauma that these children experience as a result of family separation, as well as the challenges faced by their parents, who are often unable to locate their children or communicate with them while they are in detention. The article highlights the stories of several families who have been separated at the border, and the devastating impact that this policy has had on their lives.
    My opinion on this matter is that children should not be forced into these trials and tribulations because they were born with an unfortunate standing. All kids are pure and we should have a system in place in order to protect them, not throw them away.
    This relates back to ITM because of the corporate responsibility aspect that exemplifies what I was saying about children rights. Also things such as B corps come into play, and obviously the traveling aspect is a part of the international side. Specifically when delving into the reason why immigrants did not make it and the rules that are in place to keep them away

  7. This article by Dr. Shireen Musa has reminded me of the obstacles my mother country (Russia) and several other Eastern European nations faced during the 90s.

    At that time, many countries in Eastern Europe (Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia and etc.) faced a significant challenge in dealing with youth that was abandoned by their parents. This issue was particularly prevalent in countries that underwent political and economic changes, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, which resulted in increased poverty, unemployment, and social instability. As a result, many families were unable to care for their children, leading to an increase in child abandonment.

    To address this issue, various approaches were taken by different countries in the region. One approach was to establish institutions such as orphanages and state-run foster care systems to provide care for abandoned children. However, these institutions were often overcrowded, underfunded, and provided inadequate care, leading to poor outcomes for the children.

    Another approach was to promote adoption as a solution to the problem of abandoned youth. However, cultural and legal barriers often made it difficult for families to adopt children. Additionally, there was a stigma associated with adoption, which made it less socially acceptable.

    In response to these challenges, some countries implemented reforms aimed at preventing child abandonment and promoting family-based care. For example, Romania introduced a law in 1997 that aimed to prevent child abandonment by providing financial and social support to families. The law also aimed to promote family-based care by prioritizing foster care and adoption over institutional care.

    Despite these efforts, abandoned youth remained a significant challenge in the region. The issue was further complicated by the lack of comprehensive data on the number of abandoned children and the effectiveness of different interventions. However, in recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the need to address the issue of abandoned youth in Eastern Europe, and efforts are underway to develop more effective and sustainable solutions.

  8. As our civilization develops, I think that children’s rights should be protected and cared more than before. In South Korea, there is even holiday called Children’s Day. This day was created by a person who thought children are the protagonists of the future generation who will lead the world, so took care of children’s rights in South Korea. However, it is sad that many immigrants in the world still have struggled with this problem. According to the articles, separating children from migrant families entering the United States or other Western countries is implemented in the open, and it is obviously violation of human’s and children’s right. In modern society, it often seems to be considered as the right thing that taking children away from parents by their own odd standards. Family relationship is very complicated thing and difficult to be judged by the third party especially when only fragmentary things are revealed. Mostly, it could only be understood by family members themselves. Besides this immigration tragic incidents, I can recall the one case that a father of daughter was murdered by police in the United States after a false report was received by daughter’s teacher’s misunderstanding. The meaning of the children of this country, further the children of this world, is that they are the protagonists of the future generation that will lead our world. Children’s rights
    should be considered and protected more as human rights is protected.

  9. It really shows the importance of addressing the issues that millions of children face worldwide, including child labor and exploitation. As an ITM student, I find it crucial to understand how these issues intersect with the global business landscape, particularly in the fashion industry. Child labor is a complex problem that must be confronted by businesses, governments, and consumers to ensure the well-being and protection of vulnerable children.

    It’s heartening to see organizations like the United Nations and UNICEF working tirelessly to combat child labor and promote children’s rights. The FIT community should take note of the efforts of these organizations and consider how they can contribute to the fight against child exploitation. As ITM students, it’s our responsibility to be aware of these issues and to integrate ethical practices into our future careers, whether it be through promoting fair labor standards, sustainable sourcing, or transparent supply chain management.

  10. This is an incredibly delicate subject and there’s a black-and-white way of looking at it, which at first glance seems to be the only way because, at the heart of the matter is pulling families apart rather than letting them stay together. Clinton asserts some rather obvious points, like children’s rights are human rights and vice versa. The topic and its conclusion seem rather cut and dry, who would want to be responsible for breaking apart a family? In the United States, children are expected to be raised in safe homes by responsible parents who wouldn’t risk their child’s safety, and if they did social services would have the right to investigate the home and potentially separate children if their living conditions are not up to a standard. If parents bring their children on a trip across the border, venturing to a place where they have no way to provide a safe environment for them and risking their well-being with the journey along, would social services not step in a separate those children from their parents for safety? Obviously, both examples are quite different, and there are so many more variables that need to be taken into account, but that is exactly why it cannot be looked at as black and white. It’s complicated and very very grey.

  11. I recall when the spike of families being separated at the border was across the media. To me, it was a clear violation of human rights. I didn’t know that the United Nations had documents on the rights of children. What was going on at the border was a clear violation of several articles in the document. For example, Article 3 states, “All organizations concerned with children should work towards what is best for each child.” This was something the U.S. was not doing when they removed babies and children from their parent’s arms.

    I will never understand why the children couldn’t have stayed with their parents throughout the process that was being carried out. As a child, one isn’t aware of what is going on and the children that experienced this are likely to be traumatized. Children having such a traumatic experience while their brain is developing can impact the rest of their lives. I believe at the time the U.S. was more focused on making a statement than the well-being of actual human beings. At the end of the day, we are all humans and if a nation is violating human rights there must be an intervention.

  12. Reading the second New York Times article listed in this blog entry, one sentence really stuck with me: “stop criminalizing what should at most be an administrative offense — that of irregular entry or stay in the U.S.,” by Ms. Shamdasani. I believe this statement has a lot of thinking to instigate in regular people’s minds as well as in the ones of people who hold power and are directly involved in these matters. Separating families is never a pleasant act to perform and it has infinite psychological and traumatic consequences on both the adults and the children who experience the separation firsthand. During my associate degree program, I had to conduct research about anchor babies and the big controversy who revolves around the topic. Even though this matter is a little different from children being separated from their parents in the process of entering illegally a new country, I believe it is in many ways similar and can be related.

    The first reason why I believe it is similar is because in many cases the parents of these anchor babies enter the country illegally, and in many cases, they get deported once the immigration officers find out about their unlawful permanence in the country. As a result, the babies are left in a country with little to nobody to take care of them and sent to foster programs or adoption centers. In other cases, they are deported back with their parents, but even when that happens, they still experience traumatizing processes and are marked for life for actions and decisions they have no responsibility for.

    I read all the 42 simplified articles of the UN convention on the rights of the child and, even though on paper they look good and they seem to fairly represent a part of the population that many times is too young or naïve to represent itself, in real life they are not that strictly enforced or observed.

    To conclude, I absolutely agree with Dr Musa when, in response to Hilary Clinton statement about women rights, she adds “human rights are children’s rights, and children’s rights are human rights”.

  13. As an immigrant, It’s disheartening to see that human rights are still being violated in this day and age. Regardless of your social level or whether you came to the United States legally or illegally, you have no right to be treated inhumanely. It’s heartbreaking to watch these poor women and children humiliated in this manner when they are merely seeking a better life in our country. Many people are unaware of the awful living conditions and scarcity of resources in many of these countries. I do believe that the situation got a lot worse under Trump’s administration.
    I believe that the United States can be doing so many more things to maybe work with these countries and encourage foreign countries in their trade and business. Importing products from low-income countries is critical since it supplies them with jobs and resources, but this can also become an issue as we’ve seen in the clothing industry because most situations end up in exploitations. People are sometimes deceived and believe the United States is the best option. But the reality is that this country is very disappointing in many aspects and people in charge of it need to re-evaluate what they are doing. People should not be suffering at the border or anywhere else.

  14. The issue of children’s rights keep rising every day. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights outlines the rights and freedoms that every person is entitled to. Taking away a child from his/her mother against their will is horrifying. The situation we have today with immigrants, illegally crossing the US border, with underaged kids is simply heart breaking. In my opinion, the separation of the children from their parents should be as short as possible. In the UN General Assembly’s Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that each child has the right to protection, education, healthcare, shelter, and good nutrition. These families, who made a choice to risk their lives and leave their homeland, do it for the better future of their children.
    Another issue we are facing today, is the violation of the Human Rights in Ukraine.
    A full-scale military invasion by Russia has led to deaths of hundreds of innocents kids, thousands of civilians, and millions of Ukrainian citizens had forcefully to leave the country. There have been violations of the laws of war, some of which may amount to war crimes. Many children are left without parents, and their future is unknown. I really hope that this act of the Russia’s aggression without a reason will be punished properly.

  15. A lot of things came to mind when I saw the title of this article, Children’s Rights are Human Rights. With my ITM classes we have discussed a lot about sweatshops and the issues based on that environment itself. Such as low pay working for extreme number of hours compared to average jobs, low safety and protection for workers, health insurance benefits, AND child labor being one of them. It is fundamental for every child to live a fulfilling, nurturing, safe environment/lifestyle with all the needs needed to live. Education, electricity, food, water, all the necessary essentials. On the other hand, a lot of underdeveloped countries are facing a lot of issues when it comes to providing such things, and this should not be an issue in the first case to be honest because it is so fundamental that every human deserves.

    There was a video I watched in my Corporate Social Responsibility class where a lot of children in Africa were working to mine gold and other precious stones and were interviewed and said they prefer to do this kind of work compared to going to school because they are getting paid and can help their families out. Why should we make children feel pressured to that extent to choose between their education (reading/writing/etc) and give it up to spend 20+ hours to mine to help their families. Can’t there be organizations and institutions funding these countries and pulling kids into programs to educate them and nurture them as needed, while adults replace their jobs? And if all, I think the whole system with sweatshops and other branches that pull-out kids for work is another issue. There are a lot of layers that need to be looked, and remove the threads where children are involved in the workforce. That would be a great way to start. Because even if organizations keep funding and helping, the system will still be there, unchanged. So, child labor itself need to be protested and taken care of as well.

  16. This is such an upsetting topic- the way immigrant children are treated is horrendous. Over the past few years, I’m sure we have all seen the photos and videos of children being separated from their parents at the border and quite literally being put in cages. It can feel really helpless at times to feel as if there is so little we can do, however this is why it is so important to pay close attention to who you’re voting for and their immigration policies. Another way to help is to donate to reputable organizations that resonate with you. Some of my favorites are the International Rescue Committee which helps “reunite families post-detention & provides meals and transitional shelter”, and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights who “protects and advances the rights and best interests of immigrant children according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law.”

  17. All children, in my opinion, have the right to life, which includes stability and protection. Children are vulnerable, and we, as adults, should be held responsible for ensuring their safety. It is unfortunate to observe that most of the time, adults are the ones who are accountable for children’s misery. There are numerous concerns that must be addressed to promote child rights around the world. Some of these variables are particularly linked to developing countries and poverty in many countries, yet we see it elsewhere. Separation of children crossing borders in pursuit of a better life. Child abuse, child labor, bullying and violence in schools, sexual abuse, child marriage, female genital mutilation, child killings, and corporal punishment are all examples of violent child discipline in the home. I feel that we, as a nation, are responsible for the suffering of children since they are unable to do so for themselves. It’s a significant issue that needs immediate attention. Should we focus on the root causes or on the current situation? Our focus should, in my opinion, be on the misery that these youngsters are currently experiencing, but governments should also pay attention to other areas that are related to it, as well as those that contribute to it. I feel that the United Nations’ agreement on children’s rights establishes the criteria that will provide children with the freedom they need, but the articles need to be more enforceable.

  18. When it comes to immigration I am familiar with the topic being that I come from a second generation family. My grandparents came to the US legally, with papers, but they still faced some issues. I understand that people are desperate for a new and better beginning but doing it illegally is not the way. When people bring their kids onto the journey of crossing the border illegally that’s when things get messy. It is very known through media outlets how dangerous bringing your kids with you can be. Parents risk being separated from their kids as well as losing custody of them temporarily. People come to the US to prosper but by doing it illegally with their kids, they risk a lot of things.

  19. The discussion of child exploitation has been an ongoing topic for a while now.Consumers are more willing to pay more for workers to get treated and paid respectfully in developing countries. The conversation has become much more apparent and transparent of the wrongdoings of American businesses. Consumers are now putting themselves into the lives of children who are risking their lives for others luxuries.The United States outsources their labor in order to maximize their profits. And this because communities in different countries have different values. Children are expected to work over going to school. This is because their parents make very small wages. College is seen as a privilege or sometimes, even high school education is seen as privilege. In result, their skills, knowledge and awareness isn’t expanded to higher learning. Children aren’t even given the chance to recognize how they thrive and progress in society. Learning higher skills could get them higher pay but this opportunity is blocked from them because they have to work extensive hours at heinous jobs.

  20. It brings to my surprise to find out that the U.S. is the only country in the world that has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, although in general, American children’s rights are adequately protected. However, many issues still exist regarding child abuse, health care, and juvenile law… The main problems that children in the United States of America have been facing for a long time are poverty, child abuse, harassment and mistreatment, lack of healthcare, child labor, and malnutrition. In 1990, the U.S. ranked sixth in the world in its levels of education and health care; today it ranks 27th. Fifty-four countries have lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. While levels of extreme poverty worldwide have dropped dramatically, 1/5 American children today are poor. Children are vulnerable mentally and physically. Therefore, a proper care and edaquate protection is crucial for them to grow and develop.

  21. During my time at the Fashion Institute of Technology I learned how pressing of a matter children’s rights are. It is disheartening to think that one can disregard children’s rights as if they’re not humans as well. The manufacturing and ethical practices around the world are not up to par with working ages as low as 5. Child labor is seen as an “extreme risk” in one of 10 countries globally. There are about 150 million child laborers around the world, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the majority working on farms in Africa and Asia (Elks, 2019.) Businesses often seek out the cheapest supply chain without being vigilant on what is truly happening behind closed doors. It is simply ignorant to work with a manufacturer due to their low costs without educating yourself on the reality behind the costs. It is a businesses responsibility to inform themselves about every step of their chain from beginning to end in order to ensure all practices are ethical. There are many layers involved when manufacturing internationally and the use of child labor is often concealed for their own future enfits. The countries where child labor is most prevelant such as Somolia, South Sudan and etc. are in vulnerable positions as they battle extremtrely high rates of poverty amongst their country. Businesses use these counties’ vulnerability to their advantage for their own corrupt cost advantage. “The ILO has said the world is unlikely to meet a target of ending child labor by 2025, which is part of 17 global development goals agreed in 2015 at the United Nations (Elks, 2019.)” A child’s life should not be held on the same standard as a dollar, but statistics like such show that businesses would rather prioritize their profits over the many lives that are put on the line. Children’s childhoods do not deserve to be stripped away. It is time all businesses come together to completely abolish child labor around the world.

    References
    Elks, S. (2019, May 29). Millions at risk of child labor in manufacturing hubs, say researchers. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-trafficking-childlabour/millions-at-risk-of-child-labor-in-manufacturing-hubs-say-researchers-idUSKCN1SZ2Y2

  22. After reading UNICEF articles it haepled me to realize what was being protected when it came to childrens rights. Aspects like life, survival and development; freedom from violence and abuse and neglect; allowing children to express themselves in matters that affect them; education; an adequate standard of living and these are just some reasons. Another great woman in politics also fought for human rights. The First Lady of the United States and United Nations delegate Eleanor Roosevelt asked “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?” in front of the UN in 1958. These differences made by each person have resulted in helping build things such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This CRC realizes how important the first stages of human development truly are and strive to protect that. Roosevelt answered her own question by adding, “in small places, close to home….” Nodding towards the notion that everyone can make a difference! Children are the future!

  23. First, We must always respect everyone and must consider one’s human rights. I understand that the border protect the nation by providing security. However, forced separation of parents and children is thought to have done with no human rights and respect, and even to result a disruption in a family. Of course, I understand the punishment that follows for illegally immigrating, but it is hard to understand if the punishment is forced to separate children from their parents. This an unethical policy occur difficulty to reunite with parents and children for a lifetime and is highly irrelevant so it can also cause serious mental trauma to the individuals. I think we should impose tougher penalties and punishments on drug smugglers and those who smuggle illegal products such as weapons and counterfeit goods rather than on these illegal immigrant families. The former government should be responsible for these inhumane actions and the upcoming government is thought to need new measures and laws against these illegal immigrants.

  24. At FIT, many majors have classes where you learn about the harmful and dangerous conditions of production and manufacturing facilities of fast fashion brands. It baffles me how after taking these classes and seeing first hand how destructive these practices can be on the workers and environments, people still shop at these stores. In no world can a $3 dollar shirt can exist without the possibility that child labor was how that shirt was able to come at a cheap price. I would like to make note of that we are students, working job to job, we have many expenses and being fashionable on a budget is important to many FIT students. So shopping at these fast fashion brands can be unavoidable, but primarily relying and shopping at these stores that have been known to use child labor is not a sustainable practice. We as informed consumers should be asking more of the companies we buy our clothes from. While child labor is not illegal in every country and some families depend on that extra income, we must make sure that the Right of a Child is not being violated by these production sites. These words by Hillary Clinton in 1995 are even more relevant and need to be talked about more in 2020, “human rights are children’s rights, and children’s rights are human rights”. Consumers today need to value knowing where their clothes came from. While child labor might not be completely avoidable, knowing that the factory has safe and ethical working conditions is important. While many companies are transitioning to transparency behind their production, over the next couple years, transparency behind their labor sources should become industry standard.

  25. Recently, more and more people pay attention to corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues.I believe by achieving these goals, we are not only leaving enough resources for future generations but also creating a better living environment for our planet. I learned a lot on the UN site for sustainable development goals, which is “a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” Top 5 goals are no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality. One of the goals that I am interested in is “Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” By 2030, the number of people living in the city will be raised to 5 billion. It is essential for governments to create efficient urban planning and management to deal with sustainable urbanization. For example, to create job opportunities without “ straining land and resources” Hopefully, by 2030, our cities will be like what the UN website describes “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.”

  26. “Human Rights are Children’s rights is something you think would go without saying. It’s so awful this is an issue we are still tackling in 2020. I believe it is truly unethical to separate children from their families. There is no way to guarantee that these kids will be placed in safe spaced despite how much “research” about the families that are done. I read the NY Times article “It’s: Horrendous: The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father”. “About 11,000 children are currently in these facilities, which are at 95 percent capacity, according to Kenneth Wolfe, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services. The department has reserved an additional 1,218 beds in various places for migrant children, he said” (Jordan, 2018, paragraph 21). I do commend the nice families that step up to provide refuge for those children that are separated, but it’s still so sad.

    Children need their families to grow up and this a direct violation of their rights. People are immigrating and migrating from their homelands to escape unsafe and poor living conditions and are met with separation at its border. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are positives strides to helping this issue. These goals are meant to help improve the conditions of developing countries. Providing sanitation, clean water, better education, and economic growth. This could potentially decrease the need for people to have to escape their homelands.

  27. All humans are born with a certain set of inherent rights, and that is why they are known as human rights. All too often we see these atrocious stories about children throughout the world forced to suffer and live hard and dangerous lives. The theme with many of the articles you provided is highlighting the dangers of migration. It is devastating to see countries such as the US, who prides itself on freedom and prosperity, to separate migrant children from their families and keep them in abhorrent conditions. In regards to thinking about these issues in regards to an international trade, it is important to also highlight working conditions and child labor laws in developing countries. All people, especially children, should be allowed safety and the pursuit of education, but unfortunately, this is not the case for many places and people around the world. Having institutions like the United Nations helps highlight these issues and provide global solutions to combat these topics.

  28. It is terrifying to think that children are being separated from their parents at such a young age. Those are the most crucial years for developing a child and that sort of trauma can and will affect him/her for the rest of their life. In the case of José, he is 5-years-old, an age that you do remember what is going on. To make the journey with your father being your only comfort, and then for that comfort to be taken from you for no reason (No reason the kid understands) is horrific. The article states that the Trump administration has no rules for separating parent and child, only rules for detaining adults who attempt to cross the border. Where is the rule for parents with children? That should be considered just as heavily. It seems to me that the administration in America does not consider humanity in any of these situations, but is purely focused on numbers and politics. The article also states that 638 parents arrived with 658 children. More Children are coming then adults, and those are the individuals that are staying in America. I think there should be a bigger focus on the well being of the child than the adults in this situation.

  29. I really liked how you translated Hillary Clinton’s “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” into “human rights are children’s rights, and children’s rights are human rights.” Young children were forced to work in industries such as mining and garment and carpet manufacturing factories when the Industrial Revolution started. Even today, as per UNICEF(The United Nations Children’s Fund), a whopping 150 million children all over the world are engaged in labor. Cause of child labor such as poor families could not afford their living by having a couple of children. The family tends to make their children earn some extra income. Another cause is low-level education among poor families in developing countries. Poor families are not aware of the harmful physical and mental trauma it can inflict on their children. Children often face serious health problems because of working in dangerous conditions. The employers do not care about underage children and ask them to work as much as they can and not paying well for their hard work.

  30. I really agree with the fact that children’s rights are human rights. They are the future of our society whether they be from the same country or another, it does not matter and it should not matter. These boundaries have separated the humanity from us and is making us cruel. Separating children from their families and parents is not a very great initiative to protect their bright future. They should be given privileges rather than made to suffer.

  31. All human are born free and equal in dignity and rights; men, women, and children of every race, ethnicity, and religion. Human rights are standards that recognize and protect the dignity of all human beings. Human rights govern how individual human beings live in society and with each other, as well as their relationship with the State and obligations that the State has towards them. Children and young people have the same general human rights as adults and also specific rights that recognizes their special needs. It is important to note that children are neither the possession of parents nor of the state. It is absolutely disgusting that the Trump administration has stripped immigrant children of their rights. Social research findings show that children’s earliest experiences significantly influence their future development. The course of their development determines their contribution, or cost, to society over the course of their lives. I can’t imagine being a child that is separated for their parent or guardian and put into a cage. I would be completely traumtized. I am in disbelief that this is happening in 2019, let alone in the United States. In regards to our ITM curriculum I believe current events contribute to every aspect of every course. I remember last year in my International Trade course the week of our unit about NAFTA, the Trump Administration has just changed it to USMCA. That class we actually spent our time learning how USMCA will change what NAFTA stood for. Child rights especially in regards to factories is an important topic to not only understand, but to fight for.

  32. Both my studies and my personal interests coincide with the focus of this post. I actually applied to a sustainable development internship at the UN for this coming spring. Topics like global poverty, human-caused climate change, the threat of nuclear war, and the eventuality of artificial general intelligence should be the priority of our worlds national governments.

    I have explored contemporary and historical topics in socioeconomic development in my economics and trade courses. These include the global travels of a t-shirt, the East-Asian miracle, and international relations—in which I find examples of bad incentives and unethical cultures contributing to rapid growth rates most personally interesting. My fashion oriented courses often try to account for the sustainability of our designs and their production as well as the socioeconomic, cultural and environmental circumstances in which they will exist. It has become clear to me that if we are to realize a future like those envisioned in science fiction—one of equal opportunity, sustainable innovation, and overall human flourishing—reason and compassion must prevail. I believe an altruistic, humanist mindset will guide us towards a fairer, sustainable future that will have made all of our efforts worth it.

  33. Human rights undoubtedly encompass those of children. They are one of our most vulnerable populations that must be elevated and protected as they are the future. The reality is that many of these immigrants are fleeing persecution in their own countries seeking refuge in the United States as the only means of living to see another day. It is true that our international security is a matter of extreme importance and there should be measures in place to protect us from those who mean to do us harm. But above all else we are humans with connections to family and our empathy should be able to include a child who just arrives to a new place right before their mother is snatched from their sight. Onto a life alone, scared and in inhumane conditions unlike anything you expected when your parents told you the journey was for a better life. Article 9 of the U.N. Conventions states, “Children should not be separated from their parents” because the impact that separation can have on a child leaves psychological damage well into adulthood. It could lead to inability in relationships due to insecure attachment issues or difficulty committing for long term. Our parents are the first people we know in this world and all children have the right to remain in contact with their parents if able. These families deserve fair due process and the reunion between themselves with their children.

  34. The article “Taking Migrant Children From Parents Is Illegal, U.N. Tells U.S.” really connects to the quote “Children’s’ rights are human rights and human rights are children’s rights” which is something that needs to be heavily emphasized to the current administration that is in office. They seem to have disregarded most human rights in general by creating these “detention centers” for people seeking refuge in the United States. We should be setting an example to other countries and helping those who need it because clearly they are coming here to better their lives or even get themselves out of dangerous situations, but instead, the government is making it much harder on them. There is no reason that the administration should be trying to turn asylum seekers into criminals. Also, the entire crisis never needed to happen in the first place, there was no reason to tear families apart, however the hope of the administration was to instill fear into other people in hopes that they would not try to come to the United States. Everything about the entire situation is morally wrong and certainly illegal.

  35. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

    This organization is amazing. I read all their 17 goals and they are all interconnected. Their actions really have enough effect to change one’s life or the world. Like goal 13, countries adopted the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius. I was surprised that they explain really well-persuaded for each of every goal. Why it is an important problem, when happens in this world, and how can we fix this with the number, percentage, and cases. I think not just support some matter, but actually show to the people what’s going on, why it is happening, where, and how, is most effective way to gather the people and make the action.

  36. I really liked how it was put that, “children’s rights are human rights and human rights are children’s rights,” mostly when in the current administration this is very much forgotten. Many times, like as we are seeing now, children are used as pawns in politics and many other cases. People come to think that because they are the most vulnerable and innocent they can be used and forgotten. This where they come to lose their rights as we are seeing now. But it also has been in other countries when children are used to work in unsafe factories for little to no pay. If we say that children are the future, then shouldn’t we all work to protect the rights of all children so that they have a chance?

  37. While reading the NYT article, “It’s Horrendous: The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father” it’s truly heartbreaking for children to be separated from their family at such a young age which will leave a lasting trauma for the rest of their lives. In the article, it stated that the Trump administration’s goal, by criminally prosecuting and breaking up hundreds of families forcing the children to be put into foster homes and shelters is to discourage Central American families from crossing the United States’ southwest border. Reading up on these articles and learning about what the U.S. is doing to take action for migrants who are fleeing from their countries is truly upsetting. These families leave their countries to flee from violence and economic uncertainty from their countries, and for us to treat them like this doesn’t really allow them to achieve any of the goals the UN has set out to achieve by 2030, such as Goal 1: no poverty, Goal 2: No hunger, Goal 3: good health and well-being, and Goal 4: quality education. These families come to start anew, to start fresh, a new beginning, to give their families a life they couldn’t give back at home. As the UN states, to give a better and more sustainable future for all. The regulations that have been put on these families by the Trump Administration should be revised and looked over instead of separating families and treating them like aliens.

  38. Children rights? This isn’t questionable. Animals have more than enough rights and are at a high time importancey to the world. Children are what shapes the future. They are humans that are innocent without a doubt. They should not have to suffor or have an organization to determine whether they are to have rights or to not have rights. A lot of times we preach children shape the future. Where is that now? I do not believe the UN should have an decision one bit. No child should be strip away from their family. Trump a father himself shouldn’t turn a blind eye to that. After all, it is a free country as they say. So why wouldn’t children have rights? They are evolving every minute of every hour and second.

  39. Human right and Children’s right.

    I think promoting respect for life should be the goal. As humans we will understand properly that separating small kids from their parents is harmful to both. Children should not be paying the price. Crossing the border for better life should not be penalized, Hundreds of families are still being separated at the border. I can imagine the pain and frustration from the parents and small children when they are separated. The kids and parents will suffer with depression and anxiety. I ask myself if is necessary to expend millions of dollars supporting ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). I strongly believe we should protect our border and our country from unwanted substances or illegal weapons. The majority of the people who are crossing the border are looking for a better life. Separating families is cruelty. The new administration has implement a new policy of family separation. The policy was presented as “zero tolerance”, the policy consists of giving the right and allowing federal authorities to separate children from parents. The children are being placed under the supervision of the US Department of Health. It is inhumane.

  40. As immigrant children are torn apart from their parents, the leaders of the country continue to deflect the issue. According to the New York Times article, the practice is a way to deter illegal immigration. The first question that popped into my head was, “Is illegal immigration really that bad?” I read another New York Times article, and while there were issues regarding illegal immigration, the general consensus is that it benefits the overall economy. Illegal immigrants work complement skilled workers and contribute to the economy. And while I read that, children, regardless of who their parents are, need the warmth of their parents. Parents have a crucial role in a child’s development. The whole situation is a sticky situation and while my small bit of research is not enough, I wholly agree that children’s rights are human’s rights and there needs to be reform.

  41. Immigration seems to be occurring all over the world from the immigrants that come from Central and South America to the United States or the migrants from Africa going to Italy, these steps that immigrants take is a risky one. A growing concern is the children that are caught in these human right crises. Children are extremely vulnerable and unable to protect and advocate for themselves. The Trump administration’s practice of separating children from migrant families entering the United States shows the rest of the world the lack of empathy the United States has towards children of immigrants. To go as far as to separate children from their parents when they did not even have much as a choice in their journey and then to have hundreds of these children prosecuted and locked in cages, by themselves scared and alone is something that needs to change now. If we continue to show a lack of empathy to children then it can cause bigger and worst problems in the future in other countries, not just ours.

  42. The main reason many of these migrations are happening is that they have jobs or they don’t get paid enough to live in their own countries. Many countries especially countries that rely on the agriculture industry are poor countries. I am not saying the agriculture industry is bad or wrong. But these countries do not invest in their human capital. For a country to grow human capital needs to be invested in. Many countries do not care for this because they may not have the funds, corruptions and many more reasons. Many countries aren’t even on the same playing field as France, Italy, the U.S, any countries in the EU and/or any development countries. Some reason of this migrations is because MANY U.S companies or corporations go into these countries and abuse their resources. Then the U.S or countries like the U.S get upset and reject any type of migrations or immigrants.

    It saddens me that children are getting taken away from their families and that we are responsible for that. I have read articles like the NY Times one above about how these children get taken away from their families all the time. This isn’t surprising anymore. I, myself came from an illegal immigrant mother that thank God now has her citizenship. It was a struggle for my mother to come to the U.S. but she wanted a better future for her family. It is not easy leaving what you know to a place that may turn you away but it’s all you have. I couldn’t imagine that.

    I think the rights that the U.N convention has created for children’s rights is great. But there is nothing like being with your family or at least a member of their family. I know its hard because you get children who probably lost everything they have. It’s hard to create solid solutions for these things and everyone tries to do their best. But we as an international community we need to help these 3rd world countries in bettering their human capital.

  43. I find it very interesting how we don’t allow refugees to seek asylum here but in other countries, it is very common. For example, a few years back, I visited Spain and it amazed me to see so many “Refugees Welcome Here” signs in front of almost every church. It breaks my heart to see how families are being torn apart and the children being targeted. No child should ever be taken away from their family, the only people they know, for reasons such as these. I am very disappointed in our current situation as far as congress goes. Trumps ‘build a wall” campaign also doesn’t make sense to me either. Many, if not most of these families have no intentions on participating in illegal activities that contribute to the crime here in the US other than getting their families and loved ones out of the dangerous situations they had to face in their home country. A major and sever problem that we are facing today is gun violence and how easily and accessible they are. We have seen the damage this issue has caused over and over again in the news and media outlets. Most if not all perpetrators were our very own, American. This goes to show that this wall Trump favors so much isn’t gonna crack down on the real problem.

  44. Child labor is common for those who were born in Bangladesh. Based on the date of UNICEF in 2010, “12.6% of children aged from 5 to 14 in the workforce”. It is shocking to learn that some children work over 64 hours per week in the brick factory. Moreover, millions of children in Bangladesh cannot even read a simple sentence. The poverty of the family forces them to give up their education and to start working. Child labor cannot enjoy the right that they deserved. Both their family members and governments do not protect the children. It is opposite to the united nations convention on the rights of the child, which the government should protect children who have the right to study, relax, and play.

  45. It’s saddening to see in this day and age we are still violating human rights. Regardless of social status or whether or not you have migrated legally or illegally to the United States gives no right to be treated inhumane. It’s truly heart breaking to see these poor women and children be treated this way as they are only coming to our country for a better life. What many don’t understand is the poor living conditions and lack of resources many of these countries have. Many times, we are to blame as we don’t tend to support foreign countries in their business and trades. It is important for us to import products from low income countries as it provides them with jobs and resources. The United States needs to continue making relationships with these countries as it would greatly help them better themselves.

  46. The singular thought that an entire body of government has the audacity to snatch a child, who is of ages 5 years old, 2 years old, 6 months old; from the hands of their parents simply because they wish to lead a better life for their family is gut wrenching and vile. And yet, it happens. How? The Trump administration nonetheless “patrolling” our borders like it’s WW III, by spreading propaganda such as keeping out “murders and terrorists” when in actuality the most reoccuring people attempting to cross the border are families trying to simply survive and get away from dangerous neighborhoods filled with violence or trafficking. Although I am not condoning crossing the borders illegally, there is something to be said about the extensive processes/screenings and the great lengths people must take in order to be allowed into our country. To go as far as to separate innocent children from their mothers and fathers when they did not even have much as a choice in their journey attempting the cross the borders, is truly horrifying. The numbers are spine-chilling…658 children have been prosecuted. More than that by this time are locked in cages, like animals, by themselves scared and alone with mostly nothing but a foil as a blanket. I really resonated with Janice’s quote (although I am not there to physcially see it, only read about it) in which she says, “I am watching history happen before my eyes, it’s horrendous.”

  47. After reading ‘It’s Horrendous’: The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father” it sad to witness the inhumane treatment of children. In the article it stated that the No-Tolerance Policy and the reason for separating children from their parent is used as an example to stop migrants from entering the US undocumented. I understand that generally, punishments are set in place to reduce or eliminate bad behavior. However in this case, separating children who came to the United States without even a choice and to force them to be subjected to such conditions is unethical. What makes it worse is that the children are deliberately being sacrificed to make an example. It is as if there are no other better options to handle this situation. In my opinion this policy is extreme because the children are openly being punished by this country who was based and founded on immigration and specifically undocumented immigration. In regards to ITM and the negative affects of globalization, I think it is safe to say that the United States plays a major role in the increase of undocumented immigration. I am aware that many of the migrants are fleeing bad conditions in their home country. However, in many of our ITM classes we discussed how there are many American companies who will hire most of these migrants and will take advantage, pay the migrant workers below minimum wage, and have them work in unethical conditions. Many times the migrants are criticized however, for many US companies there is a demand for them which is another reason why undocumented immigration will continue to be a topic of discussion for the US because we continue to focus on one side of the spectrum. In my opinion, just to witness that in 2018 how children are not treated as humans shows that the US is still fundamentally stained by the past and being a developed country does not says anything about the fundamental values that still needs to get better.

  48. Children being taken away from their families.

    The immigration topic is a very complex topic. Its similar to how we trade and the restrictions that we should have in place to protect our borders.

    I strongly believe that we have to protect our border, however, I totally disagree that innocent children should be penalized for what adults are doing. A big percent of immigrants are just looking for a better life for their families. Its inhumane to separate small kids from their parents. I believe it is a violation of the rights of the child.
    Kids should never be detained and taken away from parents.
    My wish as an American human being, is that each case should be evaluated and families should be kept together. Separating families who seek asylum in the US by crossing the border illegally is “immoral”.
    I strongly agree that our border should be protected for any illegal entry of import or export for any restricted exotic animal any illegal substances, and weapons.
    For any of the mentioned above our border protection should be reinforce.
    We should focus more on import and export, we get more benefits for the country and revenues than separating families.

  49. After reading all of the articles about immigration it makes me really sad the direction America is heading in. I feel personally America is losing its empathy and as a result are becoming shallow and privileged and ignorant to the needs of others. This amazing nation was built on immigration and for us to turn a blind eye to those in need and separate children at the border is beyond distressing.
    The stories the New York Times did really hit me the most out of all the readings because no child should have to go through that. I think separating children from their parents is unnecessary and cruel because though I don’t agree with deporting people looking for a better life, if we need to send them away they should at least be kept together. People deserve respect and treating them worse than animals is disgustingly wrong!
    When I did further research on this I got even more upset because I found stories and reports that said there were camps full of children in deplorable conditions who had been separated from their families and also I read stories of these kids some as young as 3 who are defending themselves in immigration courts and being deported away with no family’s to care for them when they land. This makes me so sick and ashamed to be an American. We need to teach and show compassion because this is beyond not ok!
    When Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke in her speech about how important human rights were it gave me hope for good people out there in the world and made me do further research on groups that care. One group I found that is working towards justice for the immigrants in America is the Immigrant Defense Project. They are working to get immigrants proper legal defense, limit the power and abuse from ICE and work to protect human rights of immigrants. It gives me hope that groups like this exist because with all the cruelty in the world it becomes harder to find good people and hope and the IDP reminds us that good people do exist and it will hopefully get better.

  50. Reading the NYT article, “‘It’s Horrendous’: The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father” was a heart wrenching story to read. It goes into eye-opening details of exactly what has been occurring at the border of Mexico since Trump’s administration unveiled their controversial border enforcement policy. This policy is intended to criminally prosecute anyone who attempts to cross the border illegally. What many people aren’t aware of is the gruesome stories of families being torn apart and young children being ripped from their parents. Many of these families are running from violence and economic uncertainty into America in hopes of finding refuge and safety. Is it fair that as a super power we are implementing these types of policies when America was born on the ideal of the freedom to pursue a dream. This American dream that many citizens were able to seek by migrating to these lands decades ago. I am a first generation American citizen but my parents and grand parents fled poverty and uncertainty in South Korea in order to find a safe haven for themselves and their future families. Because they were allowed to migrate and find a place they could call home, I have been given the opportunity to also pursue this American dream as an American citizen. America is a super power not only due to their citizens from being founded but also thanks to these immigrants who took advantage of the American Dream. I would not exist today if Trump’s policy was in the works 30 years ago. We must treat all of humanity, regardless of where or what culture they are from, with the same fairness and empathy we would want to be treated ourselves. As a superpower we have the responsibility to set an example for the rest of the world. It is in human nature to mirror how you are being treated and we can make incredible waves towards global peace and understanding by leading in a way that is admirable.

  51. I read the article “Convention on the Rights of a Child”. This convention declared children’s rights. From my point of view, the children’s right is part of human rights. From the convention, “Article 31Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of leisure activities.”Article 32 Governments should protect children from work that is dangerous, or that might harm
    their health or education.” This convention is clearly against children labour. In ITM books, the children labour in the apparel factory raises ethical risks. As an ITM student, it will be my obligation to choose factories without children labour after graduation.

  52. Illegal immigration has become a prevalent issue in both the United States and Europe. It is disheartening to see that the issue of rejection at the border has overshadowed something that I find to be significant, which is why there are so many refugees to begin with. As an American living in the United States in 2018, it is too easy to turn a blind eye and forget the horrific state of many countries around the globe. Millions of citizens of under developed nations are living and working in inexplicable conditions, in constant fear of what the next day may bring.

    Our Global Sourcing textbook focuses on the fact that governments are often to blame for the lack of a nation’s ability to progress and develop. Often, politics of the country won’t allow money to be invested into relevant and beneficial areas, like infrastructure, education, healthcare, social reform and industries that could provide jobs for the unemployed. In an ideal world, certain industries would be prioritized in an attempt to attract foreign investment and new forms of income for the country. While it hasn’t yet been proven why some countries make it out of corruption and chaos and others get stuck in a vicious cycle, political and economic reform would hopefully prevent many of these migrants from feeling they need to escapetheir homes and seek safe refuge in other countries.

  53. The behavior being exhibited at the US border is disheartening, disgusting and unacceptable. The article titled, “’It’s Horrendous:’ The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father,’” was particularly difficult to read. The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of a Child intensely promotes and focuses on the idea that the best interest of the child is what needs to be considered before decisions are made. At our border, American law is being put before the emotions or mental state of children. While it is important to ensure that each child crossing the border is in a safe situation, terrorizing families and tearing them apart in such an aggressive manor is taking it to an unnecessary level. This puts children and parents through trauma that could lead to lifelong issues.

    While much attention is (and should be) focused at the US border, I think it’s important to acknowledge that the conditions in the countries these migrants are coming from are so bad that it justified them risking their lives to seek asylum. This speaks volumes, and I feel efforts from wealthier, developed nations need to be targeted towards improving these conditions. I have learned quite a bit so far in my ITM studies about how important it is to understand and consider the state of another country, particularly when considering doing business there, when it could be so drastically different from your own personal view of what “life is like.” Research and education needs to take place beforehand because some environments may be unlike anything one could even imagine. The fact that these families made such bold and dangerous moves just to escape the chaos of their home supports the disconnect that many people have between where they are from and the state of less wealthy countries.

  54. As per the articles in the convention of children’s rights, I feel that more can be done to protect and help raise our children who do not have as much of a chance as others born into the majority. While I agree what is presently posted is sufficient, Article
    18 states: “Both parents share responsibility for bringing
    up their children and should always consider
    what is best for each child. Governments
    should help parents by providing services to
    support them, especially if both parents work.” How is this meant to be a marker for law? I don’t understand why “especially if both parents work,” why should they gain more support from the government as opposed to a family of which only has one working parent? This does not lessen their values nor their worth, and it does not mean everyone is not working hard to keep up with the family’s needs. For example, I was brought up with two loving parents, my father an entrepreneur and small business owner, my mother a stay at home housewife. We’ve always been able to afford our wants and needs, but of course, like any other middle class family, times get tough. Let’s say one day my father’s business got really slow, and we had no other source of income, would the government not see us as priority? This is something to think about, especially when considering younger children born into families like mine. Were not underprivileged, but were not exactly privileged either.

  55. In regard to the UN article about sustainability goals:
    I think the United Nations Sustainability goals are extremely important. Some are obvious, such as “cut out sexist behavior,” “recycle,” “plant a tree,” or “use public transportation.” Others may be a little less obvious. One that I think may be less obvious to some is to not waste water. It is something that is so easily accessible to us where we live that we take for granted the fact that others don’t always have clean, running, water. I think that in order to make this more widespread, the goals need to be broadcasted more. I really agree with the first few, “donate what you don’t use” and “don’t throw away food.” I personally avoid throwing items/food away whenever I can as I would be much happier seeing it be repurposed.
    This relates back to ITM because we learn all about CSR in the supply chain. Learning about how certain fabrics use more water or more chemicals that harm the environment is so important to know and I am very grateful it is part of our curriculum.

  56. In regard to the Unicef article about children’s rights:
    This relates back to my ITM studies because although here in America we can proudly say we have most of these rights, we learn about other countries who do not have the same rights for children. It is an important factor to look into when deciding which country to source form. There are still factories that use child slavery and it is our job to take extra precautions and do extra research to make sure we do not associate our businesses with it.
    I think that the United States does practice a good amount of the United Nations Children’s Rights from the Unicef website. Though, I think we could do better. If our government spending could be divided more so that more of these rights could take place I believe our society would be a better place. Taking care of a child from the beginning is vital.

  57. We talk a lot about sustainability in the Fashion Industry and it overlaps in all ITM courses. The Sustainable Development Goals published by the United Nations, address global challenges the world faces. This includes poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace, and most importantly justice. I believe as globalization becomes more popular, these goals become more important.

    Human rights address all humans; women, children, men. All races. All ages. All ethnicities. All religions. I love Hilary Clinton’s quote from her speech to the U.N conference on Women in 1995 “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights”. That was back in 1995 and now in 2018 we are still hearing about how women are being mistreated in all parts of the world. I believe a lot of it is focused around religion. Religions often have a lot of traditions, which are hard to change.

    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-blood-red-shoes-placed-in-tel-aviv-to-protest-violence-against-women-1.6719026

    Two days ago, there was a protest in Tel Aviv of over 20,000 women. Domestic violence is very common in this developed country and last year the government promised 250 million shekels to combat violence against women. A year later, there has been more than 20 murders of women, by someone they knew. The women protesting believe that Israeli society has not stepped up to protect women who have a voice. I found this article interesting because Israel is a developed country, who is still fighting for human rights. The country has numerous tech startups and numerous accredited universities. However, women still do not have voice in their society.

  58. I agree with you that children’s rights are extremely important. I think it is also worthy to note how important it is for the UN to take action by preventing child labor in factories. The fashion industry, in particular, has gotten in trouble numerous times for this. I believe it is the UN’s job to protect all human rights, no matter what the situation. This article (http://www.un.org/en/events/childlabourday/background.shtml) discusses information the UN does to help, but I think more can be done. Immigration has been a big topic of discussion recently and the UN should try to become more involved.

  59. I completely agree that Children’s Rights are Human Rights. I was surprised the UN’s Sustainable Developmental Goals, known as SDGs, does not have one specifically dedicated to children. They have a number of goals that will beneficially impact children, once the goal is reached. I was surprised that the goal to reduce inequalities, “to reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.” I feel like this goal addresses the migration issue currently afflicting the world today. The migration crisis that many continually hear on the news based in the United States and the European Union are simply people fleeing their home country to have a better, safer and more prosperous life in another foreign country to these people. These people migrating their home country are fleeing from a lack of opportunity, poverty, violence among other reasons. The UN is not a legal body overseeing countries, so the SDGs are simply recommendations for countries to follow; it is in the country’s own hands.

    The current actions and dialogue of the Trump administration is appalling. No one should be separating the children from their parents like this. This can only harm the children’s in the long run; the trauma they face in their home country is probably severe enough, and then to be separate from your parent, who simply is trying to protect you is a lot for children to process and handle emotionally and mentally. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated this separation can cause lifelong trauma and has urged the administration to end its policy. In the New York Times article “‘It’s Horrendous’: The Heartache of a Migrant Boy Taken From His Father,” Kristjen Nielsen states “that separating families was not the aim but merely the effect of a decision to step up prosecutions of those who cross the border illegally.” I cannot understand how the Trump administration’s strict boarder enforcement policy not realize that many families from Central America cross the border to escape the violence in their country. They must have realized while creating the policy that separating the families was going to happen.

    The United States has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is shocking. I cannot understand why the United States would not ratify the Convention, but its stricter border enforcement policy regarding the separation of family does violate “other international human rights conventions it has joined.” Hopefully, the United States will be able to end this new policy through its violations of previous agreements.

    The migrant crisis in the European Union is also terrible. It has been going on for a number of years and continues to face backlash from countries and their citizens who deny these ships or rubber rafts the right to dock in their country. This only hurts the migrants as many are young children and other disadvantaged people fleeing dangerous and violent countries. There needs to be a coalition to address the crisis and to develop a framework in regards to address migration overall. Just as Angela Merkel said “it makes no sense for individual European countries to tackle illegal migration independent of one another, given the lack of borders within the core countries of the European Union.” I agree with this statement, but I believe there must be a global legally binding agreement to hold countries accountable for their lack of empathy regarding the migrant issues they face in their respective countries. The likelihood of this to occur is slim, but to have a open dialogue with the global community should be a urgent step.

  60. The incident of how the Trump administration’s practice of separating children from migrant families entering the United States shows the rest of the world how cruel and lack of empathy the United States has towards children. It is so ironic to find out that the reason for this “zero tolerance” policy for illegal border crossings was because that it would increase criminal prosecutions of migrants significantly. I find it so hard to believe that President Trump appeared to agree on Twitter that breaking up families was wrong, yet he blamed it on Democrats and said that it was their “bad legislation” had caused it. If the United States wants to still be the lead in the world, this kind of incident should not happen and it definitely should not have this news coming out about it. This just shows the rest of the world and the United Nations that the United States does not even follow the proper Human Rights. It is concerning for not only the United Nations but also for the people in this country that migration control is more important than effectively taking care and protecting these migrant children, which is not morally correct. I agree with the article that children should never be detained for any reasons related to their parents’ migration status. This crises at the border was just a very saddening and a mistreatment of these immigrants.

  61. The UN Sustainable Goals is an important topic that is discussed in my previous studies in courses part of the ITM and also in many currents. There are a total 17 goals outlined by the United Nations and they are all created to support the management of international and domestic issues. In Goal 5 Gender Equality, I was surprised to find out that although the world has achieved so much progress towards gender equality there are still women and girls who suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. As a young woman myself, gender equality is not just a fundamental human right, it is a necessary foundation in order to have a peaceful society. It is shocking to find out that until today, there are still 18 countries where it is legal for husbands to prevent their wives from working, and daughters and sons do not have equal rights in 39 countries. I find this goal interesting because I have written a paper on this specific topic in the past and I just felt it is wrong when women and men are not entitled to the same rights. I entirely agree with the targets listed for this goal, which is to end all forms and discrimination there still may be against all girls and women everywhere in the world. It is much easier said than done; because in some Asian countries, the old generations’ traditions and beliefs are very hard to change. As far as I am aware of, there are still a few cities in Southern China that prefer to have sons rather than daughters and even give away their child if she turns out to be a girl. However, seeing these goals established by the United Nations at least shows the society that we are making progress to try to change this inequality step by step.

  62. The 54 Articles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child included all aspects and areas which a child should be entitled to. Especially in Article 10, as an immigrant myself, I know how it felt when a child is separated from his/her parents but the country did not allow the right to allow the parents to move between countries. I immigrated with part of my family to Canada 11 years ago and I still remember how hurt I felt when I found out that my father had issues getting a visiting Visa to Canada so he could not travel back to spend Chinese New Year’s with us as a family. It is crucial for the government to make the process smooth and easy for families that may be separated between different countries for personal reasons. Laws are enforced to regulate and improve people’s lives, not there to create more troubles for the people. This leads into the next Article which I have had personal experiences in the past. In Article 22, it says that Children who come into a country as refugees should have the same rights as children who are born in that country. Since I am Canadian myself, I can confidently say that the Canadian government has done a great job at how they treat all the refugees that come into the country. Not only do the refugees receive monthly benefits from the Government, but all of them are treated the same way, receive the same education and training as every other Canadian citizen. Overall, the rights listed in The Convention on the Rights of the Child really demonstrates and outlines how every country should treat its children.

  63. I read the article “Taking Migrant Children From Parents Is Illegal, U.N. Tells U.S.” from the New York Times. The crisis at the border is truly saddening and the treatment of these immigrants really shows the hypocrisy and lack of empathy and understanding of the plight of others. The worst part is that this crisis did not have to happen. It was created by this administration to drive fear mongering, hate, and ignorance and to try to build a wall that is never going to be built. Taking children away from their families is the antithesis of what the United States is supposed to stand for. That is it being perpetuated by the Republican party, which is supposed to be the party of “family values,” makes it all the more sad and ironic. It is no surprise that such an egregious practice is in violation of both international law and the rights of the immigrants. These people are being criminalized for attempting to seek asylum, which they are legally allowed to do. People that support such a practice are really misinformed on why these people are trying to seek asylum in the first place. They are not coming to the U.S. to try to get everything for free, like so many people claim. They are fleeing horrific violence, crime, and poverty in their home countries. This administration’s claims that this is somehow acceptable are patently false.

  64. Many people in different countries are struggling with poverty. This is sad and I think that the U.S should be helping out with this. As a country we trade and do a lot of business with other countries. This should influence us to want to help out to get these people out of poverty. I think that charities are a great start.
    People are making under $1.90 a day, some are making slipping into poverty again. While reading the article which is Goal #1, this is a form of hunger, shelter and malnutrition. We need to donate and the help the people with less, there should be organizations made, to not only help but to sustain a long, healthy, blessed life to these people. “Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote quality”, this statement is true in terms of sustaining this life for them. People should be equal, and not living in poverty, we should help one another.

  65. As we witness more and more the growing challenges of global immigration, it is indeed fitting for all countries, leaders, politicians, policy influencers and general public to review the U.N. Conventions on the Rights of a Child. From immigrants trying to enter the U.S. from Central and South America and being detained at border, to migrants from Africa trying to enter Italy and France and being rejected, we must all take responsibility for the human rights crisis these events create, especially with regards to children caught in the turmoil. Children are extremely vulnerable and unable to protect and advocate for themselves. For this very reason, Article 9 of the U.N. Conventions state that “Children should not be separated from their parents” and “children whose parents have been separated, have the right to stay in contact with both parents.” In addition, article 3 states “all organizations concerned with children should work towards what is best for each child,” and article 4 states that “governments should make these rights available to children.” It is true that the U.S. and other nations such as the E.U. are looking for solutions to deter illegal immigration and migrations, as the social and economic impact it has on local economies causes strain. This is where the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals come into play.

    Why are people attempting to migrate and immigrate in the first place? The reason is that their homelands are either too poor to make a living, unsafe, and/or living conditions unbearable. The world is very uneven place in terms of economic and social development. Therefore the U.N. came up with 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which is a call to action to improve lives of people everywhere by the year 2030. Local governments are essential in helping to reduce the inequalities in their countries and adopting the SDG’s would eventually help to stem migrations/immigrations and stimulate local economies. Basic goals such as Goal #1: end all poverty, (currently measured at less than $1.25 a day), to Goal #6: access to clean water and sanitation, to Goal #16: live in a society of peace and justice, are things that developed nations all take for granted. To help develop economies which will in turn benefit international trade, some basic goals to focus on are Goal #9: the building of industry, innovation and infrastructure, Goal#3: achieving good health and well being, Goal #4 quality education, and Goal #8: providing decent work and economic growth. And, my favorite goal of all, Goal #4: gender equality, because “When you empower women, you empower the whole nation.” –Quote from Bernice Dapaah, CEO and Founder of Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative.

  66. I read the article on the New York Times about “Taking Immigrant Children From Parents is Illegal, U.N. Tells U.S.”
    It is no surprise that the United Nations human rights office said that the Trump administration’s practice of separating children from migrant families entering the United States violates their rights and international law. But the administration rejected it and accused the global organization of hypocrisy.
    Separating children from migrant families definitely violating human rights because children need their families to grow up. The article even said that the United States authorities had separated several hundred children including toddlers. Who separates toddlers from the families! Even if the families are illegal or undocumented, taking the children away is not appropriate way to reinforce the law.
    I feel after under new administration, many children’s rights and human rights issue bring up to the conversation. Everyone should be aware of this issue because it is really important matter as human beings.

  67. The inclusion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is an important part of the discussion not only here but for many issues discussed in ITM and in current events. These goals, too recently created to be incorporated into many textbooks, should (and were created to) serve as a system of measurement in order to aid in the management of domestic and global matters big or small. With regard to the human rights (children’s especially) violations occurring at the U.S. boarder, we are clearly in volition of goal 3 (good health and wellbeing), goal 10 (reduced inequalities), and goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/peace-justice/#). However, the crimes being committed against humanity in this country at the moment are so despicable that they exceed the magnitude of severity displayed in the goal chart. Respecting human rights and the rights of children is and should be common sense enough that there is obviously no goal stating “not abusing and torturing people”. That fact alone should cause more action from people in congress. Yet, the amount of coverage about how these goals apply to the situation at the Mexican-U.S. boarder is almost nonexistent. However, ultimately I think these goals need to be at the forefront of every conversation, as a way to measure and manage progress to ensure the continued development of a sustainable future.

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