ABSTRACT
The centrality of the family for conservative Christians (CCs) can never be over-estimated: Within the different Christian traditions, the family's foundational status is expressed somewhat differently. Families are an important type of 'intermediate' institution or 'mediating structure' between the powerful state and the individual. Most CCs are adamant the traditional nuclear family is under heavy attack. The threats to the family are legion. Over-emphasizing the individualism inherent in liberal theory, the family is increasingly seen not as a separate entity, but rather as simply the sum of its component parts International treaties ratified by the New Zealand government are seen as principal culprits, particularly the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child 1989. Turning to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC), that convention far exceeded most child rights advocates' expectations. The typical CC reaction to the children's rights movement is a mixture of scepticism and hostility.
