[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 28 (Monday, July 16, 2001)]
[Pages 1032-1033]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7455--Captive Nations Week, 2001

 July 12, 2001

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    The 21st century must become the ``Century of Democracy.'' Democracy 
and freedom have taken root across the globe, and the United States will 
continue to stand for greater consolidation of pluralism and religious 
freedom, wider access to information, and respect for human rights and 
for the rule of law. Our Nation and many of our allies share this vision 
for the world. In the words of President Ronald Reagan, ``For the sake 
of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are 
at last free to determine their own destiny.''
    During the 20th century, dictators, monarchs, and colonialism gave 
way to democracy through ballot boxes, pressure from citizens, and 
negotiated settlements to conflicts. However, freedom and liberty 
remained out of reach for many. In 1959, the Congress promulgated a 
Joint Resolution authorizing and requesting the President to declare the 
third week of July as Captive Nations Week and to continue this annual 
statement ``until such time as freedom and independence shall have been 
achieved for all the captive nations of the world.''
    Worldwide, many nations have successfully made transitions to 
democracy since President Eisenhower signed the Captive Nations 
Resolution. These democracies, whether nascent or consolidated, are 
found in areas that the great General and 34th President could have 
barely imagined would find freedom before the 20th century closed.
    In spite of the proliferation of democracies over the past century, 
many people across the globe are held captive by their governments. More 
than a decade after the Berlin Wall fell, more than 2 billion people 
still live under authoritarian regimes. America must remain vigilant in 
our support of those living under authoritarianism. There remain people 
in Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia 
who do not enjoy the right to choose their own governments and to hold 
those governments accountable.
    Americans and the 3 billion others across the globe living in 
democracies desire the same freedoms for the remaining 42 percent of the 
world's population who live without them. But as long as governments 
like those in Afghanistan, Burma, Cuba, Iraq, and Sudan exist, freedom 
is not accessible to all. Greater access to robust marketplaces of 
ideas, as well as freedom of worship and expression, will empower those 
living in closed societies. Strong and transparent judicial systems and 
respect for human rights and the rule of law also serve as necessary 
foundations for democracy.
    To promote the development of democratic practices worldwide, I 
reaffirm America's support for freedom, justice, and pluralism. I have 
asked my Administration to examine our programs to support democracy and 
human rights movements closely and to ensure that these programs advance 
American policy. In addition, I want to make certain that our annual 
State Department

[[Page 1033]]

human rights, trafficking in persons, and religious freedom reports are 
integrated into American foreign policy.
    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 in July of each year as ``Captive Nations 
Week.''
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States 
of America, do hereby proclaim July 15-21, 2001, as Captive Nations 
Week. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week 
with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to reaffirm their 
devotion to the aspirations of all peoples for liberty, justice, and 
self-determination.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of 
July, 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.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., July 16, 
2001]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on July 13, and it will be published in the Federal Register 
on July 17.