[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62979-62980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30014]




[[Page 62977]]

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Part V





The President





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 Proclamation 6855--Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human 
Rights Week, 1995
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 235 / Thursday, December 7, 1995 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 62979]]

                Proclamation 6855 of December 5, 1995

                
Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human 
                Rights Week, 1995

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                More than 200 years ago, America's founders adopted the 
                Bill of Rights to ensure the protection of our 
                individual liberties. Enshrined in our Constitution are 
                the fundamental guarantees to freedom of conscience, 
                religion, expression, and association, as well as the 
                rights to due process and a fair trial. Our Nation was 
                formed on the principle that the protection and 
                promotion of these rights are essential to a free and 
                democratic society.

                Peoples throughout the world look to the United States 
                for leadership on human rights. In the aftermath of the 
                Holocaust and the devastation of two world wars, our 
                country led the international effort toward adoption of 
                the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For the 
                nearly 50 years since December 10, 1948, this document 
                has served as the standard for internationally accepted 
                behavior by nations toward their citizens.

                This year, our work to promote peace in areas of 
                conflict and to support human rights, democracy, and 
                the rule of law have continued to make a difference 
                around the globe. Most recently, our efforts to foster 
                a settlement to the terrible conflict in Bosnia 
                resulted in an agreement that contains clear 
                protections for human rights and humanitarian 
                principles.

                In Bosnia, and throughout the world, we have paid 
                special attention to the most vulnerable victims of 
                abuse--women and children. At the Fourth World 
                Conference on Women in September of this year, the 
                First Lady underscored our commitment to defending the 
                rights of women and families, and we have undertaken a 
                range of initiatives to raise awareness of child 
                exploitation, to oppose child labor, and to assist 
                young victims of war.

                We live in an era of great advances for freedom and 
                democracy. Yet, sadly, it also remains a time of 
                ongoing suffering and hardship in many countries. As a 
                Nation long committed to promoting individual rights 
                and human dignity, let us continue our efforts to 
                ensure that people in all regions of the globe enjoy 
                the same freedoms and basic human rights that have 
                always made America great.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 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, 1995, as Human 
                Rights Day, December 15, 1995, as Bill of Rights Day, 
                and December 10 through December 16, 1995, as Human 
                Rights Week. I call upon the people of the United 
                States to celebrate these observances with appropriate 
                programs, ceremonies, and activities that demonstrate 
                our national commitment to the Constitution and the 
                promotion of human rights for all people. 
                
[[Page 62980]]


                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-five, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and twentieth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 95-30014
Filed 12-5-95; 4:35 pm]
Billing code 3195-01-P