All too often, adults at multiple levels of societal and academic responsibility fail to appropriately identify, react and respond to extreme allegations of child abuse. Defending children is an issue that should transcend all political and legal aspects of society.
All adults have a moral and social responsibility to take action against child-related violence. The United States prides itself on championing fundamental liberties, yet there is clearly a void in terms of protecting the rights of children in this country.
Developed in 1989, the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international set of standards and obligations that sets forth the full spectrum of social, political and economic rights to be afforded to children. The U.S. has yet to ratify the convention. The only other U.N. member state to decline to ratify this international document is Somalia.
As a result of the serious lack of academic and political attention paid to child human rights in the U.S., children frequently lack the protections they require and deserve. American society needs to experience a greater level of awareness and insight to the many violence-related issues affecting this vulnerable population.
So, how can we accomplish this? Or better still, how can a U.S. center of higher education, as Penn State and Syracuse University are presently attempting, take on the task of addressing the sexual, physical and mental abuse of children in America and identify themselves as leaders in such a cause?
Most U.S. colleges and universities currently lack comprehensive research and study programs directed to the rights of children. To a significant degree, such academic activity can be found at many international academic and research centers. Though Penn State should be commended for developing the Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children, the current description of activities and participants is lacking in identifying international experts in the area of child abuse and/or child human rights.
The challenge for American academic institutions would be to create progressive and new interdisciplinary initiatives focused on the human rights of children – An Institute for the Study of Human Rights of Children. The social sciences, medicine and law, as well as education, are just a few of the areas that can serve as the foundation to this U.S.-based field of study.
Child human rights encompass more than just child abuse or child protection. An increased and deeper knowledge of the special issues that children face and how to create a safer society for them will ultimately be the best response to the child-sex scandals facing Penn State and Syracuse universities as well as our country.
A simpler approach would be to investigate the accusations of abuse, change institutional policy, donate money to child protection agencies, lobby for a new law for better reporting processes, or develop a limited academic or research initiative.
While each of these alternatives has its own merits, realistically, little more will be contributed to society in general. They will only serve as political or academic Band-Aids to a much larger societal wound.
A holistic, educational approach based on the advanced study of the human rights of children may allow the U.S. to move ahead and be identified as a leader in terms of how we can most optimally care for and protect our children. It will assure a better and safer life for our children.
A new, progressive, academic approach will increase the national sense of moral and social responsibility, filling the presently existing void in how we should respect, and, yes, honor our children by finally providing them with the safeguards they deserve.
**This article was published in the Tribune Democrat on 1/6/12
Matt Masiello, M.D., MPH 