123STA T . 3 74 7 PROCL A M AT I O N8 4 6 4 —DE C. 9, 2 0 09 Indep enden c e ofth e U n i ted S t a te s of Am e r ica the t w oh u ndred and thirt y- fourth .B A R A CKO BA M A Proclam a ti o n846 4o fDe cem b er 9,20 09 HumanRightsD a y,B i l l of Rights Day, A n d Human Rights We e k , 20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation More than 60 years a g o , the United N ations G enera l Assem b ly ap- pro v ed the Universal D eclaration of H uman Rights, declaring the ‘ ‘in- herent dignity ’ ’ and ‘‘e q ual and inalienable rights’’ of all human beings as the ‘‘foundation of freedom, j ustice and peace in the world.’’ T his self-evident truth guides us today. Although every country and culture is unique, certain rights are universal
the freedom of people — includ- ing women and ethnic and religious minorities—to live as they choose, spea k their minds, organi z e peacefully and have a say in how they are governed, with confidence in the rule of law. History shows that coun- tries that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, secure, and successful. In the United States, these fundamental rights are the core of our Dec- laration of Independence, our Constitution, and our Bill of Rights. They are the values that define us as a people, the ideals that challenge us to perfect our union, and the liberties that generations of Americans have fought to preserve at home and abroad. Indeed, fidelity to our fundamental values is one of America’s greatest strengths and the rea- son we stand in solidarity with those who seek these rights, wherever they live. Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights W eek must be our call to action. As Americans, we must keep striving to live up to our founding ideals. As a Nation, the United States will always side with the innocent whose rights are denied, the oppressed who yearn for equality, and all those around the world who strive for freedom. As members of what P resident F ranklin Roosevelt called ‘‘the human community,’’ we will never waver in our pursuit of the rights, dignity, and security of every human being. NOW, TH E REFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Decem- ber 1 0, 2 00 9 , as Human Rights Day
December 1 5 , 2009, as Bill of Rights Day; and the week beginning December 10, 2009, 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 L ord two thousand nine, and of the
