It has been 20 years since the United Nations adopted a treaty aimed at protecting the rights of children around the world.

The Convention for the Rights of the Children has been ratified by every country except Somalia – which has not had a functioning government for most of the last two decades – and the US.

Barack Obama, the US president, has said he wants to change that, but he faces opposition from congress.

Critics say the convention places the rights of children above their parents and is anti-family. Others cite sovereignty issues.

But rights groups dismiss those criticisms as unfounded.

Al Jazeera's Cath Turner reports from the United Nations in New York City.