UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
HR 147 (RATIFY CONVENTION ON CHILD RIGHTS)
We need to stop this resolution scheduled for committee hearing on Thursday, March 5, at 11:00.
Under this resolution, children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.
Take Action:
1. Fill out a witness slip in opposition to the resolution before the hearing convenes at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 5th. Remember to check the boxes for "Opposition," "Record of Appearance Only," Enter "Illinois Federation for Right to Life" for the Agency field and "Citizen" for the Title Field. Make sure to "Agree to Terms" before submitting.
Click here to fill out the witness slip.
2. Please contact as many of the committee members as you can before 10:30 am on Thursday, March 5th, and let them know that you OPPOSE HR 147. If you want to briefly explain why you oppose a resolution that encourages the ratification of the UNCRC you may do so, but it is not necessary.
Here are the members of the committee and their office numbers in Springfield:
Laura Fine, Chairman (217) 782-4194
Deborah Conroy, Vice-Chairman (217) 782-8158
C.D. Davidsmeyer, Republican Spokesman (217) 782-1840
Adam Brown (217) 782-8398
Terry Bryant (217) 782-0387
Tom Demmer (217) 782-0535
Mary E. Flowers (Bill Sponsor) (217) 782-4207
Robyn Gabel (217) 782-8052
Frances Ann Hurley (217) 782-8200
Jeanne M. Ives (217) 558-1037
Natalie A. Manley (217) 782-3316
Martin J. Moylan (217) 782-8007
References:
Katie Hatziavramidis, Parental Involvement Laws for Abortion in the United States and the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child: Can International Law Secure the Right to Choose for Minors?, 16 Tex. J. Women & L. 185, 202-203 (Spring 2007):
“The unmistakable trend in the United States is to consistently increase anti-choice legislation, particularly with respect to minors. Ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United States holds a strong possibility of assisting minors who seek abortions without parental interference. [*203] The Convention may offer the best hope for securing adolescent reproductive freedoms on a global level. If enough diplomatic pressure were exerted on the United States to compel it to ratify the treaty, the CRC could provide significant improvements in the outlook for reproductive freedom for minors.”
Paragraph 3, Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Columbia, Committee on the Rights of the Child, 42nd sess., U.N. Doc. CRC/C/COL/CO/3 (2006): “The Committee notes with appreciation…decisions of the Constitutional Court on…the partial decriminalization of abortion.”
Paragraph 55, Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Chile, Committee on the Rights of the Child, 44th sess., U.N. Doc. CRC/C/CHL/CO/3 (2007): “The Committee…is concerned over the high rate of teenage pregnancies, the criminalization of the termination of pregnancies in all circumstances….”
