Laura L. BehlingInternationalNaming RightsI’ve thought a lot about this seemingly simple act of reading names at Commencement. Mostly I’ve thought that this ritual is far from simple: it punctuates one of the most complex learning experiences of college — figuring out who you are and what that who will be called. The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes this powerful marker of human identity and human dignity. By signing on to this agreement (as have nearly 200 countries have) states must act in the best interests of children by complying with basic rights, including, vitally, the right to their own name and identity from birth.December 10, 2018Page 1 of 1
