[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 50 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Page 1841]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7968--Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human 
Rights Week, 2005

December 9, 2005

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Americans believe that freedom is God's gift to every man and woman 
in the world. The Founders adopted our Constitution to secure the 
blessings of liberty for the people of the United States, and since 
1789, generations of Americans have defended and advanced freedom in our 
Nation.
    Throughout our history, the United States has also worked to extend 
the promise of liberty to other countries. We are continuing those 
efforts today. We are promoting democracies that respect freedom of 
speech, freedom of worship, and freedom of the press and that protect 
the rights of minorities and women. We are standing with dissidents and 
exiles against oppressive regimes and tyranny.
    This year has seen great advances in the spread of democracy and 
human rights. In January, more than eight million Iraqi men and women 
braved threats of violence to vote for a provisional government. In 
October, Iraqis voted in even greater numbers to approve a draft 
constitution for their country, and on December 15, they will return to 
the polls to elect a Council of Representatives. Millions of Afghans 
voted in September in the first free legislative elections in 
Afghanistan in decades. Countries of the former Soviet bloc are emerging 
as thriving democracies. A free press is gaining ground in Kyrgyzstan, 
and civil institutions are being strengthened in Ukraine and Georgia. We 
have witnessed good progress this year, and America will continue this 
historic work to advance the cause of freedom.
    We remain confident in this cause because we have seen the power of 
freedom to overcome the dark ideologies of tyranny and terror. Freedom 
enables men and women to live lives of dignity. And freedom gives the 
citizens of a nation confidence in a future of peace for their children 
and grandchildren. As we observe Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, 
and Human Rights Week, we renew our commitment to building a world where 
human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law and where 
all people can enjoy freedom and dignity.
    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 December 10, 2005, as 
Human Rights Day; December 15, 2005, as Bill of Rights Day; and the week 
beginning December 10, 2005, 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 five, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
thirtieth.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:18 a.m., December 12, 
2005]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
December 13. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.