Our world recognizes the right of a child to grow in a healthy and normal way, as well as the obligation of the state to protect that right.
The 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child, states in Principle 2:
The child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity. In the enactment of laws for this purpose, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration.
On November 20th, 1989 the International Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted as a binding treaty by 176 nations at the UN General Assembly. It was based on the 1959 declaration. This new document states in Article 6.2:
States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.
In Article 24.3, it states:
States Parties shall take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children.
As of 1989, the orthodontic industry continues to use procedures that are designed to stunt and bind natural growth in children. Right to Grow is invoking Article 24.3, and calling for the abolishment of headgear, including all appliances known to create the headgear effect, and the abolisment of fixed retainers that by design, do not allow the jaws the widen.
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A few kids have vertical and horizontal maxillary excess, and headgear sure would help these patients, if we could get cooperation. Now surgery is really the only remedy for excess maxillary growth.
I really don’t see that steering growth toward the norms to make the child more attractive is “violating a child’s right,” but liberal control freaks probably think otherwise.