IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 854 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should become a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Ms. OMAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should become a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was adopted by the United Nations Gen- eral Assembly on November 20, 1989; Whereas the UNCRC entered into force on September 2, 1990; Whereas the United States played a pivotal role in the draft- ing of the UNCRC and was the main proponent of many of the Convention’s articles; Whereas the United States signed the UNCRC on February 16, 1995, but has not yet ratified the convention; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR854.IH HR854 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 854 IH Whereas the United States is the only United Nations mem- ber state which has not ratified the UNCRC; Whereas the United States has demonstrated its commitment to the aims of the UNCRC by ratifying two of its op- tional protocols, including the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the Op- tional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitu- tion, and Child Pornography; Whereas protecting the rights of children, preventing their exploitation and abuse, meeting their basic needs, and helping them reach their full potential are foundational to the development of a healthy society; Whereas girls face disproportionate and differential human rights violations and discrimination, including gender- based and sexual violence, sexual harassment, trafficking, early and forced marriage, and unequal access to edu- cation, health, food, and justice; and Whereas alleviating child poverty and eliminating violence and discrimination against children is essential to United States interests at home and abroad: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) the United States should become a state 3 party to the United Nations Convention on the 4 Rights of the Child (UNCRC); 5 (2) the President should promptly seek the ad- 6 vice and consent of the Senate to ratification of the 7 UNCRC; 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR854.IH HR854 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 854 IH (3) the United States Senate should approve 1 United States ratification of the UNCRC; 2 (4) the President should, upon receiving ap- 3 proval from the United States Senate, ratify the 4 UNCRC; and 5 (5) the United States should use its voice, vote, 6 and influence in bilateral and international relation- 7 ships and institutions to support the aims of the 8 UNCRC. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR854.IH HR854 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS