[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 46043-46044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15416]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 46043]]

                Proclamation 10599 of July 14, 2023

                
Captive Nations Week, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During Captive Nations Week, we reaffirm our support 
                for brave people around the world who are standing up 
                to oppressive rule and striving for greater freedom, 
                greater dignity, and greater democracy.

                When President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the 
                first Captive Nations Week in 1959, he appealed 
                directly to the hundreds of millions living behind the 
                Iron Curtain--firm in the knowledge that 
                authoritarianism could never erase a people's love of 
                liberty. Over the coming decades, courageous women and 
                men joined together to demand their fundamental 
                freedoms and human rights. But the battle against 
                oppression did not end with the Cold War. The forces of 
                autocracy continue to reassert themselves. In Iran, 
                Belarus, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the 
                Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the People's 
                Republic of China, and elsewhere, we are seeing an all 
                too familiar contempt for the rule of law, for 
                democracy, for human rights, and even for the truth 
                itself.

                This is all too evident in Russia's brutal aggression 
                against its neighbor Ukraine and in the Ukrainian 
                people's courageous defense of their sovereignty, 
                freedom, land, and lives. And around the world, 
                countless more are working every day in their own 
                countries to advance the essential democratic 
                principles that unite free people everywhere: the rule 
                of law; free and fair elections; the freedom of the 
                press; the freedom to speak, write, and assemble; and 
                the freedom to worship as one chooses. These advocates 
                and champions of democracy are living proof that the 
                darkness that drives autocracy can never extinguish the 
                flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people 
                everywhere.

                The United States is proud to stand with all those who 
                fight for freedom. We will continue supporting 
                democratic reformers and human rights defenders around 
                the world, who are working for a future where women and 
                girls can exercise their rights equally and contribute 
                fully to society, where members of religious and ethnic 
                minorities can live their lives without harassment, 
                where LGBTQI+ people can live and love freely, and 
                where citizens and the press can question and criticize 
                their leaders without fear of reprisal.

                Two years ago, at the first Summit for Democracy, I was 
                proud to launch the Presidential Initiative for 
                Democratic Renewal, with more than $400 million in 
                initiatives to defend and grow democratic resilience 
                with partners around the globe. This year, at our 
                second Summit, I committed another $690 million to keep 
                growing our work to advance democracy internationally. 
                Democracy--transparent and accountable government of, 
                for, and by the people--is our most powerful tool to 
                realize lasting peace, expand prosperity, and protect 
                human dignity.

                The United States will continue to lead not just by the 
                example of our power but the power of our example. That 
                is why, since my first day in office, my Administration 
                has also taken decisive action to restore and 
                strengthen democracy here at home. I issued an 
                Executive Order promoting access to voter registration 
                and election information, and I signed into law the 
                Electoral Count Reform Act, which helps preserve the 
                will of the people

[[Page 46044]]

                against future attempts to overturn our elections. The 
                Department of Justice has strengthened its ability to 
                fight unlawful voter suppression. And I continue to 
                call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act 
                and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

                During this Captive Nations Week, as we honor the 
                bravery of democratic reformers and human rights 
                defenders everywhere, I am reminded of the words of the 
                philosopher Kierkegaard: ``Faith sees best in the 
                dark.'' To those living in darkness today: We honor 
                your resilience. To those who are committed to the 
                cause of liberty: We are your partner for a better 
                future.

                The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 
                1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the 
                President to issue a proclamation designating the third 
                week of July of each year as ``Captive Nations Week.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 
                16 through July 22, 2023, as Captive Nations Week. I 
                call upon all Americans to reaffirm our commitment to 
                championing those around the world who are working, 
                often at great personal risk, to secure liberty and 
                justice for all.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2023-15416
Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F3-P