Keeping Questionable Company

Here’s a list of some notable treaties in the area of human rights:

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: ratified by all states except USA.
• Convention on the Rights of the Child: ratified by all states except USA, Somalia
• Ottawa treaty (against anti-personnel mines): not party to by 37 states including USA, Somalia, Libya, N Korea, Russia, Syria, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Iran
• The Rome Statute (setting up the International Criminal Court): not party to by over 40 states. Some milestones are USA, Russia, China, N Korea, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia.
• Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: holdouts include USA, Cuba, Angola, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Somalia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Iran, China, N Korea, Indonesia

I know it’s silly to look at it too simplistically in terms of guilt by association. And I have previously dismissed the UN (although my position is changing, thanks Matthew and Mark!).

But this much should be obvious. When the only country that hasn’t ratified a convention on the rights of children is yourself and Somalia, if I were Obama I’d also be embarrassed.

Also if you’re after doom and gloom predictions scanning the above list of which countries haven’t signed what should be enough to raise the hairs on your neck. Just saying.