By: Turner, S. H.C.R. No. 149 73R8158 MPC-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the 1-2 Child is a landmark international treaty that was adopted by the 1-3 General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and went into effect in 1-4 September 1990; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The convention establishes a comprehensive vision 1-6 and framework for all nations to embrace to ensure the survival, 1-7 protection, and development of all the world's children; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Outlined in the 54 articles of the convention are 1-9 the standards and aspirations our nation has for its children, 1-10 including the protection against want, hunger, unnecessary illness, 1-11 abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination on the basis of 1-12 race, color, sex, handicap, national origin, religion, or birth 1-13 status; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Already 150 nations either have signed or have 1-15 ratified the convention in what has been the quickest and most 1-16 overwhelming display of support for an international treaty in 1-17 history; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The United States is among just a handful of 1-19 nations, including Iraq, Libya, Saudia Arabia, Cambodia, Somalia, 1-20 Malaysia, and South Africa, which have failed to either sign or 1-21 ratify this most fundamental, yet vital treaty; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the 1-23 Child would apply only to the extent that the convention does not 1-24 conflict with state or federal law, and nations can take 2-1 reservations from specific provisions or file understandings 2-2 explaining how they will interpret a particular provision or 2-3 article; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The United States has an excellent opportunity in 2-5 its capacity as a world leader to assert a strong moral position 2-6 and to join with other nations to promote the survival, protection, 2-7 and development of all children; now, therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 2-9 hereby strongly encourage the president of the United States to 2-10 forward the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the United 2-11 States Senate for consideration of ratification and to enlist the 2-12 cooperation of the full United States Senate to expedite its 2-13 ratification; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 2-15 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to 2-16 the speaker of the house of representatives and president of the 2-17 senate of the United States Congress, and to all members of the 2-18 Texas delegation to the congress with the request that it be 2-19 officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 2-20 Congress of the United States of America.