[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19077-19078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9343]



[[Page 19075]]

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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7424--National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2001



Proclamation 7425--National D.A.R.E. Day, 2001
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 19077]]

                Proclamation 7424 of April 9, 2001

                
National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every day, Americans are making progress both in the 
                fight against crime and in the effort to ensure fair 
                and compassionate treatment of victims and their 
                families. Dedicated volunteers, health care 
                professionals, counselors, and law enforcement 
                personnel in communities large and small are raising 
                the public's awareness that victims have important 
                rights.

                Decreasing crime rates are encouraging, but we are far 
                from winning the war against crime. According to the 
                most recent National Crime Victimization Survey, nearly 
                29 million people were victimized by crime in 1999, 
                including more than 7 million victims of violent crime. 
                Americans cannot afford to be complacent. All of us 
                must continue efforts to stop crime and to improve 
                services for those harmed by crime.

                The voices of our Nation's victims continue to have a 
                powerful effect in changing laws, policies, and 
                attitudes to promote victims' rights and services. They 
                encourage every person in America to take a stand and 
                to lend their support. My Administration is committed 
                to improving public safety and to providing justice for 
                all who have been victimized. We will fight for public 
                policies that prevent crimes. We will steadfastly 
                support those responsible for enforcing the laws and 
                protecting the innocent. And we will attempt to see 
                that offenders, not victims, pay the high cost of 
                crime.

                Our Nation's commitment to crime victim assistance 
                grows stronger every year, with thousands of programs 
                in place to provide help and hope. My Administration is 
                committed to expanding opportunities for faith-based 
                and charitable organizations dedicated to serving 
                persons in need. Crime victims often turn to faith-
                based organizations for assistance and support during 
                times of crisis, and religious leaders and communities 
                are vital links in our national network of victim 
                services.

                This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Crime 
                Victims' Rights Week. The campaign to win rights for 
                victims parallels other grassroots movements in our 
                Nation's history. These crusades most frequently began 
                as small local movements led by groups of passionate 
                individuals who spoke out in protest when they saw 
                inequities. During this week, let us join in the effort 
                to establish fair legal rights and services for crime 
                victims.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by the authority vested in me 
                by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do 
                hereby proclaim April 22 through 28, 2001, as National 
                Crime Victims' Rights Week. I urge all Americans to 
                share the burden of reducing crime in their communities 
                and to follow the example of those who have helped 
                establish rights and improve services for victims.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-9343
Filed 4-11-01; 11:59 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P