[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 74013-74014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29400]



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Vol. 79

Friday,

No. 239

December 12, 2014

Part V





The President





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Proclamation 9219--Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2014
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 239 / Friday, December 12, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Proclamation 9219 of December 9, 2014

                
Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2014

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On December 10, 1948, nations from six continents came 
                together to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human 
                Rights. This extraordinary document affirmed that every 
                individual is born equal with inalienable rights, and 
                it is the responsibility of governments to uphold these 
                rights. In more than 430 translations, the Declaration 
                recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of all people 
                and supports their right to chart their own destinies. 
                On the anniversary of this human rights milestone, we 
                join with all those who are willing to strive for a 
                brighter future, and together, we continue our work to 
                build the world our children deserve.

                The desires for freedom and opportunity are universal, 
                and around the world, yearnings for the rule of law and 
                self-determination burn within the hearts of all women 
                and men. When people can raise their voices and hold 
                their leaders accountable, governments are more 
                responsive and more effective. Children who are able to 
                lead healthy lives and pursue an education without fear 
                are free to spark progress and contribute to thriving 
                communities. And when citizens are empowered to pursue 
                their full measure of happiness without restraint, they 
                help ensure that economies grow, stability and 
                prosperity spread, and nations flourish. Protecting 
                human rights around the globe extends the promise of 
                democracy and bolsters the values that serve as a basis 
                for peace in our world.

                It is our obligation as free peoples to stand with 
                courageous individuals who raise their voices to demand 
                universal rights. Under extremely difficult 
                circumstances--and often at grave personal risk--brave 
                human rights defenders and civil society activists 
                throughout the world are working to actualize the 
                rights and freedoms that are the birthright of all 
                humankind. The United States will continue to support 
                all those who champion these fundamental principles, 
                and we will never stop speaking out for the human 
                rights of all individuals at home and abroad. It is 
                part of who we are as a people and what we stand for as 
                a Nation.

                My Administration supports free and fair elections, and 
                we will always oppose efforts by foreign governments to 
                restrict the freedoms of peaceful assembly, 
                association, and expression. We will continue to defend 
                the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, call for 
                the release of all who are unjustly detained, and 
                insist that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
                persons be treated equally under the law. We will press 
                forward in our efforts to end the scourge of human 
                trafficking, our fight to ensure the protection of 
                refugees and other displaced persons, and our tireless 
                work to empower women and girls worldwide.

                The United States will always lift up those who seek to 
                work for the world as it should be. This is part of 
                American leadership. On Human Rights Day and during 
                Human Rights Week, let us continue our urgent task of 
                rejecting hatred in whatever form it takes and recommit 
                to fostering a global community where every person can 
                achieve their dreams and contribute to humankind.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution

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                and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim 
                December 10, 2014, as Human Rights Day and the week 
                beginning December 10, 2014, as Human Rights Week. I 
                call upon the people of the United States to mark these 
                observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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

[FR Doc. 2014-29400
Filed 12-11-14; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5