Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week, 2005
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Americans believe that freedom is God's gift to every man and woman
in the world. The Founders adopted our Constitution to secure the
blessings of liberty for the people of the United States, and since
1789, generations of Americans have defended and advanced freedom in our
Nation.
Throughout our history, the United States has also worked to extend
the promise of liberty to other countries. We are continuing those
efforts today. We are promoting democracies that respect freedom of
speech, freedom of worship, and freedom of the press and that protect
the rights of minorities and women. We are standing with dissidents and
exiles against oppressive regimes and tyranny.
This year has seen great advances in the spread of democracy and
human rights. In January, more than eight million Iraqi men and women
braved threats of violence to vote for a provisional government. In
October, Iraqis voted in even greater numbers to approve a draft
constitution for their country, and on December 15, they will return to
the polls to elect a Council of Representatives. Millions of Afghans
voted in September in the first free legislative elections in
Afghanistan in decades. Countries of the former Soviet bloc are emerging
as thriving democracies. A free press is gaining ground in Kyrgyzstan,
and civil institutions are being strengthened in Ukraine and Georgia. We
have witnessed good progress this year, and America will continue this
historic work to advance the cause of freedom.
We remain confident in this cause because we have seen the power of
freedom to overcome the dark ideologies of tyranny and terror. Freedom
enables men and women to live lives of dignity. And freedom gives the
citizens of a nation confidence in a future of peace for their children
and grandchildren. As we observe Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day,
and Human Rights Week, we renew our commitment to building a world where
human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law and where
all people can enjoy freedom and dignity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2005, as
Human Rights Day; December 15, 2005, as Bill of Rights Day; and the week
beginning December 10, 2005, as Human Rights Week. I call upon the
people of the United States to mark these observances with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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