HR0544LRB101 14581 MST 63488 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has consistently been a
3leader in protecting children and promoting their rights; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois developed the world's first
5juvenile court in 1899, out of concern that children should be
6removed from adult prison and receive a second chance; this
7legal innovation of a juvenile court was rapidly adopted
8throughout the world; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is committed to the human
10rights of children, particularly those in conflict with the
11law; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Illinois, based on its history and tradition of
13human rights and responsibilities, must demonstrate its
14dedication to providing all children with a better today and a
15better tomorrow; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In the 1980s, the United States, along with nearly
1780 other nations, participated in a working group of the U.N.
18Commission on Human Rights that drafted a Convention on the
19Rights of the Child; and
 
20    WHEREAS, On November 20, 1989, the United Nations General

 

 

HR0544- 2 -LRB101 14581 MST 63488 r

1Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of
2the Child, which was drafted with the specific purpose of
3promoting and protecting the well-being of all children,
4regardless of national boundaries; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Convention on the Rights of the Child has been
6ratified by all of the world's nations, except the United
7States, making it the most widely ratified human rights
8document in history; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The United States formally signed the Convention
10on the Rights of the Child in 1995, signifying its intent to
11ratify the Convention; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The Illinois Ninety-Ninth General Assembly
13adopted H.R. 1143 in 2010, urging the adoption of the
14Convention on the Rights of the Child; and
 
15    WHEREAS, November 20, 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of
16the convention on the Rights of the Child; and
 
17    WHEREAS, On October 8, 2019, the United Nations will
18receive the first international report on the Global Study on
19Children Deprived of Liberty along with updated
20recommendations on when and under what conditions children
21should be detained and deprived of liberty; and
 

 

 

HR0544- 3 -LRB101 14581 MST 63488 r

1    WHEREAS, The Global Study notes that one of the most
2positive developments in juvenile justice worldwide has been
3the adoption of a separate court for juveniles, first developed
4in Illinois in 1899; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is committed to continuing
6its global leadership regarding justice for children and
7adolescents and to ensuring that all Illinois children receive
8all internationally recognized human rights; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
10HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11we call upon all government agencies in the State of Illinois,
12counties, and municipalities, in particular those concerned
13with juvenile justice, to review their policies and practices
14in comparison to the recommendations of the Convention on the
15Rights of the Child and the Global Study on Children Deprived
16of Liberty.