There was a Children's rights conference not too long ago in New York where the US didn't sign a treaty ,(along with Somalia and China, I believe) on the gounds that it was interfering with many states' laws where the death penalty was allowed for children under 18 when they committed their crime.

* It's true. It has to be looked at on a case by case basis as well. In other countries, children are automatically property of the state, not necessarily for their well being either.

The Kyoto treaty about the environment also was an international issue which is seeing acceptance around the world.
And a treaty concerning mines (defended by the late Princess Diana as well as Nobel peace price winner) was signed all over the world, with a few exceptions....

* Yes, I know...

Recent news on land mines. A look back on that issue

There may be unfair situations as granting human right icommission or nvestigations to countries with an extremely poor human right record, but that is also a way for them to be forced to expose their own records, as no country likes to be pointed at.
And if drop them, we let them have it the way they want. However, if we're there, we can criticize, argue, convince. It pays off better that way.

* Yes, I believe that to be one of the UN's main goals from its inception. All parties have a ways to go.

Marcia