[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 29, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 45563-45564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21962]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 168 / Wednesday, August 29, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 45563]]

                Proclamation 7458 of August 24, 2001

                
Women's Equality Day, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Women's Equality Day marks the anniversary of women's 
                enfranchisement and a pivotal victory for women's 
                rights. Our Nation recognized a woman's right to vote 
                with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, but the 
                roots of the women's rights movement go back to at 
                least 80 years earlier.

                In 1840, Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Lucretia Mott at 
                the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London. They, 
                along with the other women there, expected to join in 
                the anti-slavery proceedings, but male delegates 
                refused to allow them to participate. Thus rebuffed, 
                Mott and Stanton began a journey that would lead to the 
                1848 Seneca Falls Convention. There, the Declaration of 
                Rights and Sentiments called for women's equality, 
                including the right to vote and to take part in our 
                Nation's great moral debates.

                Nearly all women's rights advocates also fought for the 
                abolition of slavery. One hundred and fifty years ago, 
                anti-slavery suffragette Sojourner Truth gave a 
                powerful address expounding on the strength of women. 
                Her impassioned call for women to actively participate 
                in social justice movements became a legendary link 
                between abolition and suffrage. That same year, Susan 
                B. Anthony met Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and they later 
                joined Harriet Tubman, Mary Ann Shad Cary, Lucy Stone, 
                and other abolitionists to pursue the goal of women's 
                suffrage. Many 19th Century abolitionist suffragettes 
                did not live to see the fruit of their work for women's 
                enfranchisement, but their efforts led the way for 
                women to fight for and win recognition of their rights 
                as equal participants in our Republic.

                Tremendous advancements have been made in the fight for 
                equality. But we must remain diligent in enforcing our 
                Nation's laws. And we still have work to do in this 
                area.

                Today, thousands of people, mainly women and children, 
                are trafficked into the United States each year and 
                forced to work in the sex industry, sweatshops, field 
                labor, and domestic servitude. Beyond these vile acts, 
                workplace discrimination and targeted violence continue 
                to take place, despite their rejection by our 
                communities and legal system.

                Our efforts to ensure women equal rights must include 
                the protection of women from violence and equal access 
                to justice. This is particularly vital for women who 
                face geographic, cultural, and other barriers to social 
                justice services. Women victimized by crime should 
                receive equitable and compassionate care, including 
                access to advocacy, emergency shelter, law enforcement 
                protection, and legal aid. That is why my 2002 budget 
                requests increased funding for Federal initiatives to 
                combat violence against women and to continue the 
                guarantees of basic civil rights and liberties for 
                women.

                As we remember the well-known champions of women's 
                equality, we also honor the millions of women whose 
                private efforts and personal ideals continue to sustain 
                and improve this land. On Women's Equality Day, I call 
                upon all Americans to defend the freedoms gained by 
                those who came before us and to continue to expand our 
                shared vision of social justice and equality.

[[Page 45564]]

                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 August 26, 2001, as Women's 
                Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United 
                States to observe this day with appropriate programs 
                and activities.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-21962
Filed 8-28-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P