HJ0046 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0046 LRB103 36113 ECR 66203 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois developed the world's first juvenile court in 1899 out of concern that children be removed from adult prison and receive a second chance and has consistently been a leader in protecting children and promoting their rights; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois legal innovation of a juvenile court was rapidly adopted throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, based on its history and tradition of human rights and responsibilities, is committed to the human rights of children, including those children in conflict with the law; and

WHEREAS, In the 1980s, the United States participated in a working group, along with nearly 80 other nations, to draft a Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was written with the specific purpose of promoting and protecting the well-being of all children, including those in conflict with the law; and

WHEREAS, On November 20, 1989, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and

WHEREAS, The United States formally signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, signifying its intent to ratify the Convention; and

WHEREAS, The Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified by all of the world's nations, except the United States, making it the most widely ratified human rights document in history; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois 99th General Assembly adopted HR 1143 in 2010, with bi-partisan sponsorship, urging the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and urging all Illinois agencies to ensure their policies and practices comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge all agencies in the State of Illinois, in particular those concerned with the economic opportunity, education, health care, housing, justice, nutrition, protection, and recreation of children, to ensure their policies and programs comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to submit the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for review; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Senate of the United States to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the United States Senators from Illinois.