HomeMy WebLinkAboutProclamation proclaiming Human Rights Week, Human Rights Day, and Bill of Rights Day ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, on December 10, 1948, the member states of the United Nations signed the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and countries of different political,
economic and social systems agreed on the fundamental rights that all people
share solely on the basis of their common humanity; and
WHEREAS, Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week were adopted by the United Nations
in connection with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and
WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights Day was first declared in 1941 by President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt to commemorate the 1791 Ratification of the Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS, it was the North Carolina convention, held in Hillsborough, which was instrumental
regarding the inclusion of a Bill of Rights as part of ratifying the United States
Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights guarantees, among other basic liberties, freedom of speech and of
the press as well as freedom of religion and association; and
WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights states that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property
without due process of law and establishes fundamental rules of fairness in judicial
proceedings, including the right to trial by jury; and
WHEREAS, the primary responsibility to promote respect for these rights and freedoms lies with
each individual in Orange County, and each of us can play a major role in
enhancing human rights; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Orange County support Human Rights and recognize that the
"inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human
family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace;"
NOW, THEREFORE, We, The Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North
Carolina, do hereby proclaim
December 10 — 16, 2011 as Human Rights Week
and
December 10, 2011 as Human Rights Day
and
December 15, 2011 as Bill of Rights Day
in Orange County and challenge residents to study and promote the ideas contained in these
documents to the end that freedom, justice, and equality shall not perish but will flourish and be
made available to all.
This the 5h day of December 2011.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners