Introduced By: Senators Walton, Issa, Badeau, Cicilline J. and Roberts
Date Introduced : May 5, 1999
WHEREAS, Children's rights require special protection and continuous improvement all over the world, as well as calling for the development and education of children in conditions of peace and security; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations has proclaimed that the period of childhood is entitled to special care and assistance; and
WHEREAS, The child should grow up in a family environment with happiness, love and understanding; and
WHEREAS, The child should be fully prepared to live the life of an individual in society; and
WHEREAS, The child should be brought up with dignity in a spirit of peace, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity; and
WHEREAS, In all countries of the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions; and
WHEREAS, It is important to have international cooperation in order to improve the living conditions of children in every country, in particular in the developing countries; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has broken all records as the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history; and
WHEREAS, The convention is the most rapidly and widely adopted human rights treaty in history with 191 States Parties; and
WHEREAS, Only two countries have not ratified this agreement, Somalia and the United States; and
WHEREAS, The uniqueness of the treaty is that it is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of children's human rights, which include civil and political rights as well as their economic, social and cultural rights, thus giving all rights equal emphasis; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby memorializes the President of the United States and the United States Congress to ratify the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States; the President of the United State Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States; the United Nations Secretary -- General Kofi Annan and each Member of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.
