the crc at 19

8/6/2019 The CRC at 19

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The CRC @ 19

An invitation to smile … with your family

8/6/2019 The CRC at 19


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 beenuniversally 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

8/6/2019 The CRC at 19


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 andsportsmen 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 economicsystem 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.

8/6/2019 The CRC at 19


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 …

the crc at 19

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