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SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois developed the world's first
3juvenile court in 1899, and has consistently been a leader in
4protecting children and promoting their rights; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is committed to the health,
6safety, education, and growth of its children and children
7everywhere; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The United States, based on its history and
9tradition of human rights and responsibilities, must
10demonstrate its dedication to provide all children with a
11better today and a better tomorrow; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Children in the United States continue to face
13considerable hardships, including inadequate educational
14opportunities, and high rates of poverty, abuse, and neglect,
15hunger, infant mortality, incarceration, adolescent pregnancy,
16homicide, and suicide; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Every child is entitled to the fundamental
18necessities of life, including the rights to food, clothing,
19shelter, health care, and education, protection from abuse,
20neglect, and exploitation, and freedom from discrimination;
21and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the government to
2ensure that all children and their families receive the level
3of support necessary for the realization of these rights; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Each child, for the full and harmonious
5development of his or her personality, should grow up in a
6family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love, and
7understanding; and
 
8    WHEREAS, On November 20, 1989, the United Nations General
9Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of
10the Child, which was drafted with the specific purpose of
11promoting and protection the well-being of all children,
12regardless of national boundaries; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Convention on the Rights of the Child has been
14ratified by 193 nations, who have used this document to guide
15the development and implementation of policies and programs
16that specifically meet the needs of children and families; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The United States and Somalia are the only two
18nations that are party to the United Nations that have not
19ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The United States formally signed the Convention

 

 

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1on the Rights of the Child in 1995, signifying its intent to
2ratify the Convention; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we call upon all
5agencies in the State of Illinois, in particular those
6concerned with the following activities as they relate to child
7welfare - economic opportunity, education, health care,
8housing, juvenile justice, nutrition, protection, and
9recreation for children - ensure that their policies and
10programs comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
11and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we urge the President of the United States
13to submit the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the
14Senate Foreign Relations Committee for review; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That we urge the Senate of the United States to
17ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and be it
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20presented to the President, the Minority and Majority Leaders
21of the United States Senate, and United States Senators Dick
22Durbin and Mark Kirk.