The United Methodist Church commends the Senate of the United States for actions which completed ratification of the following human rights instruments and allowed its government to deposit instruments of ratification with the Secretary General of the United Nations, who received them on the following dates:
-- The International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide on November 25, 1988;
-- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on June 8, 1992;
-- The Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and
-- The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on October 21, 1994.
The Senate has not pursued those steps which will complete ratification of three remaining human rights instruments that have been signed by the President:
-- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1977, and transmitted to the United States Senate;
-- The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women was signed on behalf of President Carter in Copenhagen on July 17, 1980, and transmitted to the United States Senate; and
-- The Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed on behalf of President Clinton in New York on February 16, 1995, and transmitted to the United States Senate.
The Senate also has not acted upon the following conventions:
-- The Convention on Biodiversity was signed on June 4, 1993, on behalf of President Clinton and transmitted to the United States Senate; and
-- The Treaty on the Law of the Sea was signed on behalf of President Clinton on July 29, 1994, and transmitted to the United States Senate.
It is imperative that the United States Senate act promptly to give its "advice and consent" to the ratification of these instruments.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21050-CS-R633-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference