WHEREAS, On November 20, 1989, the United Nations' General Assembly unanimously adopted a single legal instrument spelling out, in an unequivocal manner, the rights to which every child is entitled, regardless of where born or to whom, regardless of sex, religion or social origin; and

WHEREAS, The human rights of children and the standards that all governments must aspire to are concisely and fully articulated in this one international human rights treaty ... the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and

WHEREAS, The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights - civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights by setting standards in health care, education and legal, civil and social services; and

WHEREAS, The universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations spells out the basic human rights that all children, everywhere have ... the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life; and

WHEREAS, States that are party to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child; and

WHEREAS, By ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child, national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community; and

WHEREAS, The Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified by every country in the world, except the United States; and

WHEREAS, The United States, which has signaled its intention to ratify by formally signing the Convention, now stands as the only industrialized country in the world yet to make this legal commitment to children; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby urges the United States to ratify the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child, in order to reflect a new vision of the child as an individual and as a member of a family and community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and stage of development; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island delegation to the United States Congress.