HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-04-2006-6aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 4, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. _.~~g_
SUBJECT: Proclamation Acknowledging Human Rights Week, Human Rights Day, and
the Bill of Rights Day
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Yes/No) No
& Orange County Human Relations
Commission
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Milan Pham, 960-3877
PURPOSE: To officially recognize Human Rights Week, Human Rights Day, and the Bill of
Rights Day in Orange County during the month of December.
BACKGROUND: On December 10, 1948, the members of the United Nations signed the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and countries of different political, economic, and social
systems agreed to the fundamental rights that all people share solely on the basis of their
common humanity.
Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week were adopted by the United Nations in connection
with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Bill of Rights Day was first declared in
1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to commemorate the 1791 Ratification of the Bill of
Rights.
The Orange County Human Relations Commission (HRC) recognizes that before any individual
or group may seek to vindicate their rights, those rights must first be acknowledged. The HRC
hopes that acknowledgment of Human Rights Week, Human Rights Day, and the Bill of Rights
will encourage Orange County residents, as individuals, to take a stand against social injustice
and continue to work together to make freedom, justice, and equal opportunity available for all.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None•
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
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, 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, 2006 to be HU1viAiv RIGHTS WEEK and
December 10, 2006 as HUMAN RIGHTS DAY and December 15, 2006 as BILL OF RIGHTS DAY in
Orange County and challenge our 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 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2006.
BARRY TACOBS, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners