IL HJR0046

Illinois developed the world's first juvenile court in 1899 and has historically led in protecting children's rights and removing youth from adult prison systems

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989, which has been ratified by all nations except the United States

The United States formally signed the Convention in 1995 but has not ratified it, despite it being the most widely ratified human rights document in history

Urges all Illinois state agencies, particularly those handling economic opportunity, education, health care, housing, justice, nutrition, protection, and recreation, to ensure their policies comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Calls on the President of the United States to submit the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and urges the U.S. Senate to ratify the Convention