HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-05-2005-6aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 5, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No. (__-g___
SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing Human Rights Week, Human Rights Day, and The
Bill of Rights Dav
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations & PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
Orange County Human
Relations Commission
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Milan Pham, 960-3877
PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation 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
Day 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: There is no financial impact associated with approval of the
proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
Human Rights Week, Human Rights Day, and the Bill of Rights Day
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, 2005 t0 be HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK
and
December 10, 2005 aS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
and
December 15, 2005 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 5th day of December, 2005,
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners