The CRC @ 19

An invitation to smile … with your family

The occasion

This week we marked 18 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the

Child (CRC). On the one hand we have this Convention which has been
universally accepted. On the other hand we have the troubled context in our
own country. My purpose is to explore and understand with you the
relationship between the CRC and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

It is best that we understand Sri Lanka before we make sense of the CRC.
And let us consider this island not in isolation but as a fully representative
portion of planet earth.

We need to look for a single organizing principle around which everything

else in this country is based. To me that principle is identity. Who are you?
What is the first identity that comes to your mind? Does it relate to your
job? What are the other identities that come to mind?

You see we are also taught by the society we live in that we are members of
a particular race or religion. Now dig deeper into yourself. What else are
you? Like a cow that comes home at the end of the day we may also realize
that we are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and
children.

Working identities and fear

Please understand that this world we live in has prioritized work before our
family. I myself work out my own identity in the same order that I
mentioned above. If you related to yourself differently then you are truly
blessed.

Deep down inside we know that our jobs give us everything – food, clothing, a
house to live in and may be other conveniences like a vehicle. This is the
power that our employer holds over us. And this creates a sense of fear. We
work with this fear at the back of our minds. With this fear we are
conditioned to perform in a way that conforms to the expectations of
society. If we look at the heroes – those who make headlines, they are
generally politicians, businessmen, film stars and sportsmen.

The reasons they are applauded are quite simple. The politicians and
businessmen are increasing their power and wealth. The film stars and
sportsmen entertain us, distract our minds and help us escape this weary
world.

It is a rare ruler like the king of Bhutan who says that Gross national
happiness is more important than Gross national product. We have only just
begun to wake up to the full implications of what he said. One implication of
course is that we can only be happy when our fear is removed.

There are other identities that define our behaviour. The global economic
system treats us all as consumers and some of those who refuse to play by
the rules of the game are either criminals or terrorists.

The CRC

Into this sea of identities come children with their own rights to boot.
Confused?

At first sight the CRC does not seem to help. It only talks about children
and that excludes us adults – right?

When we take identity to an extreme, division and conflict is inevitable. The

CRC moderates its emphasis on children with a situational guide it calls the
Best Interests of the Child. Best Interests are broader than rights and
includes the capacity of caregivers and the support they need. This principle
finds a parallel in the Eastern Tradition of Karuna or compassion and its
situational tool for specific applications – upaya kausalya or skillful means.

Thus with the CRC identity is the beginning; compassion the means and
happiness the end.

Parents are not mechanical duty bearers but human beings who also grow and
develop in caring for their children.
The CRC has listed everything a child needs to grow up and become a happy
adult. Most importantly it has recognized that every child born into this
world and every family that cares for a child is morally entitled to an equal
share of the resources of this world.

This places a definite limit to the accumulation of wealth and power the
world economic order previously encouraged.

In short both the exploiter and exploited – the powerful and powerless are
now being asked to relax and enjoy life with their families. The most
precious commodity that has been taken away from families is not wealth or
power (these have always been pre-occupations of the discontented and
ambitious) but TIME.

The CRC is based on a few simple truths. We are what we are because of our
parents and those who supported them. Today we live in a society that
honours heroes. Good mothers and fathers don’t make the headlines.

Yet, is not our whole civilization based on love between a man and a woman
and their love for their child? Was not this civilization spoiled when that
same man and woman and that child started loving other things more than
they loved each other?

The CRC is a return to this basic premise.

Today humanity as a whole is living to work; not working to live.

The CRC invites us to prioritize ourselves and our families – to regain our
emotional and social health, to become happier and lighter human beings who
can learn to smile again. Unless we do this first – how do we expect to help
others?

Taking care of our internal and family environments in this way may perhaps
be the best way to remove the threat posed by ignorant, greedy and angry
human beings to planet earth and save ourselves from extinction. Our
happiness may save the world. At least it’s worth a try …