The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - Essay Example

There could be some problems in the plan to implement the principles of the UNCRC as the difference in cultural values could hamper any attempt to implement the principles. The principles would need to be evaluated and deciphered over and over again with regard to changing global trends. This is actually one of the major challenges of implementing the principle as the UNCRC would have to be amended from time to time based on the current circumstances and changes around the world.

Another problem that could likely occur due to the implementation of the principles of UNCRC is the fact that different cultures and societies would have the impression that some countries are trying to impose their cultures on them. This thought could lead to some kind of inter-cultural battle. Some cultures do not see the issue of child maltreatment as anything serious. For these cultures, embracing the tenets of the UNCRC would be hard for them to do. It is pertinent to note that it is not the implementation of the UNCRC that is important, but the acceptance of these principles by the cultures that are most guilty of violating the rights of children.

 The cultural variation that exists amongst nations is one of the major threats to the implementation of the principles of UNCRC. Each country has contrasting perspectives on the manner in which children should be treated. The African culture, for instance, makes it clear that children should always respect their parents and the elders in society (Bueren 1998). The western culture does not lay much emphasis on respect by children and this is a pointer to the fact that cultural variation would affect the implementation of UNCRC.

Article 34 of UNCRC talks about the protection of children from sexual exploitation, but this is an issue that some countries have failed to address as their cultures allow children to be sexually exploited (Bueren 1998). Child prostitutes in Thailand and some other countries act according to the dictates of their society and this means that they are not in any way prepared for the implementation of the UNCRC. It has become a norm for these child prostitutes to carry out their obligation without fear as they are saddled with the responsibility of taking care of their families with the money they make from their illicit trade. However, some other countries adhere to Article 34 of UNCRC as the cultures of these countries advocate against the sexual exploitation of children and make it compulsory for children to get an education and not involve themselves in illicit acts (Bueren 1998). The fact that some cultures violate it and others do not show that cultural variation would affect the implementations of the UNCRC.

Some countries still uphold the culture of mutilating the genitals of their female children, while other cultures abhor this act. The implementation of the UNCRC would mean that the countries that are involved in this act would have to forsake their long tradition of female genital mutilation. These cultures see female genital mutilation as the right of parents to their daughter and do not see anything illegal or evil about the act. The fact that some cultures advocate against it means that the variation in these cultures would affect the enactment of the UNCRC.