ABSTRACT
This chapter appeared in The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: An Analysis of Treaty Provisions and Implications of US Ratification by Jonathan Todres, Mark E. Wojcik and Cris R. Revaz, and is reprinted by permission of Koninklijke Brill NV. This concept is reflected in Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by identifying a developmental principle called "the evolving capacities of child", which establishes that it is up to parents to provide "appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present Convention". It recognizes that children are entitled to basic human rights, and exercise of those rights will be protected by the parents and gradually turned over to the child when parents consider to child's individual growth and development. The CRC places primary responsibility with parents to provide for their children's needs but exhorts State Parties to provide support and assistance to parents in fulfilling their roles.
