80 FR 77563 - Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2015

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 239 (December 14, 2015)

Page Range		77563-77566
FR Document		2015-31582

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 77563-77566]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31582]



[[Page 77563]]

Vol. 80

Monday,

No. 239

December 14, 2015

Part IV





The President





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Proclamation 9380--Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2015


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 239 / Monday, December 14, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 77565]]

                Proclamation 9380 of December 9, 2015

                
Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2015

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Sixty-seven years ago, the leaders of 48 countries from 
                around the world declared with one voice that progress 
                depends on defending human rights, and that a nation is 
                strongest when the contributions of its whole citizenry 
                are valued. Today, we celebrate the Universal 
                Declaration of Human Rights--a milestone in our ongoing 
                global march to uphold the inherent dignity and worth 
                of every person. To honor the legacy of this historic 
                document and to help ensure that its ideals endure for 
                generations to come, we reaffirm our commitment to 
                upholding the freedoms it safeguards, which are the 
                birthright of all humanity.

                When rights are suppressed, human potential is stifled. 
                A nation draws upon new talents and ideas when 
                opposition parties are fairly represented and those in 
                power are accountable to their citizens at the ballot 
                box. A free and independent press and a vibrant civil 
                society can inform the public, expose corruption, and 
                empower citizens to participate in self-governance. And 
                when institutions are built to protect rights and 
                freedoms, rather than serve the interests of those in 
                power, those institutions can provide the stable 
                foundation for stability needed for future generations 
                to thrive.

                In too many places around the world we see rights and 
                freedoms denied. People are imprisoned for peaceful 
                worship and girls are barred from attending school. 
                LGBT individuals are subject to abuse because of who 
                they are and who they love, and citizens are prevented 
                from petitioning those in power for change. The United 
                States of America stands in solidarity with those 
                seeking to realize a brighter and freer future for 
                themselves and their families, whether in their home 
                country or as immigrants in a new land. We will 
                continue to lift up the lives of all who yearn to 
                exercise their inherent human rights and to shine a 
                light on those still living in the darkest pockets of 
                our world.

                The strongmen of today will never extinguish the hope 
                that persists around the world. Dissenters may be 
                jailed, but ideas can never be imprisoned. Controlling 
                access to information will not turn lies into truths, 
                nor will it deter the longing for justice that stirs in 
                every human soul. And refusing to recognize the basic 
                dignity of every man, woman, and child--regardless of 
                gender, background, race, ethnicity, sexual 
                orientation, or belief--will only lend further momentum 
                to the quest for equality that for generations has 
                stirred hearts and spurred action. On this day, and 
                every day, let us remember our roots as one human 
                family, forever dedicated to upholding the central 
                tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2015, as 
                Human Rights Day and the week beginning December 10, 
                2015, as Human Rights Week. I call upon the people of 
                the United States to mark these observances with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities.

[[Page 77566]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2015-31582
Filed 12-11-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P

$mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with D0 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:58 Dec 11, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\14DED0.SGM 14DED0$

$77565 Federal Register Presidential Documents Vol. 80, No. 239 Monday, December 14, 2015 Title 3— Proclamation 9380 of December 9, 2015 The President Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2015 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Sixty-seven years ago, the leaders of 48 countries from around the world declared with one voice that progress depends on defending human rights, and that a nation is strongest when the contributions of its whole citizenry are valued. Today, we celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights— a milestone in our ongoing global march to uphold the inherent dignity and worth of every person. To honor the legacy of this historic document and to help ensure that its ideals endure for generations to come, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the freedoms it safeguards, which are the birthright of all humanity. When rights are suppressed, human potential is stifled. A nation draws upon new talents and ideas when opposition parties are fairly represented and those in power are accountable to their citizens at the ballot box. A free and independent press and a vibrant civil society can inform the public, expose corruption, and empower citizens to participate in self-govern- ance. And when institutions are built to protect rights and freedoms, rather than serve the interests of those in power, those institutions can provide the stable foundation for stability needed for future generations to thrive. In too many places around the world we see rights and freedoms denied. People are imprisoned for peaceful worship and girls are barred from attend- ing school. LGBT individuals are subject to abuse because of who they are and who they love, and citizens are prevented from petitioning those in power for change. The United States of America stands in solidarity with those seeking to realize a brighter and freer future for themselves and their families, whether in their home country or as immigrants in a new land. We will continue to lift up the lives of all who yearn to exercise their inherent human rights and to shine a light on those still living in the darkest pockets of our world. The strongmen of today will never extinguish the hope that persists around the world. Dissenters may be jailed, but ideas can never be imprisoned. Controlling access to information will not turn lies into truths, nor will it deter the longing for justice that stirs in every human soul. And refusing to recognize the basic dignity of every man, woman, and child—regardless of gender, background, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or belief—will only lend further momentum to the quest for equality that for generations has stirred hearts and spurred action. On this day, and every day, let us remember our roots as one human family, forever dedicated to upholding the central tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with D0 of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2015, as Human Rights Day and the week beginning December 10, 2015, as Human Rights Week. I call upon the people of the United States to mark these observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:58 Dec 11, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4705 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\14DED0.SGM 14DED0$

Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:47:16
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:47:16

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Presidential Documents
FR Citation		80 FR 77563