[Federal Register: December 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 239)]
[Presidential Documents]               
[Page 76667-76670]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12de02-151]                         




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Part IX










The President










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Proclamation 7634--Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human 
Rights Week, 2002




                        Presidential Documents 








___________________________________________________________________


Title 3--
The President


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                Proclamation 7634 of December 9, 2002


 
                Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human 
                Rights Week, 2002


                By the President of the United States of America


                A Proclamation


                America's commitment to individual freedom and 
                democracy provides the foundation for our society. As a 
                Nation, we cherish the values of free speech, equal 
                justice, and religious tolerance, and we steadfastly 
                oppose the forces of cruelty, injustice, and tyranny. 
                Since the founding of our country, the Bill of Rights 
                has served to guide our people and our Government to 
                ensure basic human rights and liberties. The United 
                States is a country where all citizens have the 
                opportunity to voice their opinions, practice their 
                faith, and enjoy the blessings of freedom.


                Today, countless people around the world cannot 
                exercise their basic human rights. America has pledged 
                to support all individuals who seek to secure their 
                unalienable rights. Across the globe, we will continue 
                to stand with those who fight for fundamental freedoms, 
                whether they be democracy activists in Cuba, university 
                faculty and students in Iran, opposition leaders in 
                Zimbabwe, journalists in Belarus, or the people of 
                North Korea who have never known freedom. We are 
                leading a coalition of more than 90 nations to defeat 
                terror and to secure liberty and opportunity for people 
                throughout the world. Our fight against oppression 
                demonstrates our Nation's dedication to a future of 
                hope and understanding for all people. One year after 
                the liberation of Afghanistan from the clutches of 
                terror and tyranny, we are helping the Afghan people 
                build institutions of democracy and tolerance that are 
                essential to the country's future stability, security, 
                and prosperity. And I hope the brave people of Iraq 
                will soon realize their own dreams of peace and 
                freedom.


                In commemorating Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, 
                and Human Rights Week, we renew our pledge to uphold 
                the vital principles of freedom, equality, and 
                opportunity that have made our Nation strong. By 
                working together to advance the rights of all people, 
                we help to build mutual trust and peace for all 
                individuals across this land and around the world.


                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, 2002, as Human 
                Rights Day; December 15, 2002, as Bill of Rights Day; 
                and the week beginning December 10, 2002, as Human 
                Rights Week. I call upon the people of the United 
                States to honor the legacy of human rights passed down 
                to us from previous generations and to resolve that 
                such liberties will prevail in our Nation and 
                throughout the world.


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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand two, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.


                    (Presidential Sig.)B


[FR Doc. 02-31559
Filed 12-11-02; 9:05 am]

Billing code 3195-01-P