[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7573-S7574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 106-37

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Injunction of Secrecy be removed from the following 
protocols transmitted to the Senate on July 25, 2000, by the President 
of the United States: Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the 
Child (Treaty Document No. 106-37).

[[Page S7574]]

  Further, I ask unanimous consent that the protocols be considered as 
having been read for the first time, that they be referred with 
accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered 
to be printed, and that the President's message be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith two optional protocols to the 
Convention on the Rights of the Child, both of which were adopted at 
New York, May 25, 2000: (1) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on 
the Rights of the Child on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict; 
and (2) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the 
Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child 
Pornography. I signed both Protocols on July 5, 2000.
  In addition, I transmit for the information of the Senate, the report 
of the Department of State with respect to both Protocols, including 
article-by-article analyses of each Protocol. As detailed in the 
Department of State report, a number of understandings and declarations 
are recommended.
  These Protocols represent a true breakthrough for the children of the 
world. Ratification of these Protocols will enhance the ability of the 
United States to provide global leadership in the effort to eliminate 
abuses against children with respect to armed conflict and sexual 
exploitation.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
both Protocols and give its advice and consent to the ratification of 
both Protocols, subject to the understandings and declarations 
recommended in the Department of State Report.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
The White House, July 25, 2000.

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