In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a comprehensive international children's rights treaty that addresses children's civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The CRC sets goals and standards that promote children's rights, thereby strengthening governmental initiatives to serve children and families. The treaty recognizes the role and authority of families and the importance of governmental policies that ensure children's optimal development in their families and communities. The CRC is organized around several guiding principles: the best interests of the child, protection against discrimination, the child's right to survival and development, and the right to have a voice and freedom of expression. Furthermore, a group of concerned American child advocates joined together to form the Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the CRC, and organized the " Summit for the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Mobilizing Communities for Ratification," held at American University in Washington, D.C., in May 2006.