[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8651 of April 8, 2011

Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Throughout Pan American Day and Pan American Week, we celebrate the
close partnerships across our hemisphere that advance the ability of our
citizens to enjoy freedom and reach for their highest aspirations. Every
day, the future is being forged by the countries and peoples of the
Americas. The world must now recognize the Americas as a whole as a
dynamic and growing region, because the Americas are democratic and at
peace, and we are coming together to address shared challenges.
Increasingly, our hemisphere is contributing to global prosperity and
security. The bonds between our people are rooted not only in mutual
respect and shared interests and responsibilities, but also in common
values. As the nations of the Americas continue to grow, progress, and
address the challenges of our day, our friendships will be more
important than ever to attaining and maintaining security and prosperity
for all.
This year, the Americas can celebrate milestones that have strengthened
the ties between our societies. More than 60 years ago, our nations came
together in an Organization of American States and declared that
``representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the
stability, peace, and development of the region.'' A decade ago, we
reaffirmed this principle, with an Inter-American Democratic Charter
that stated ``the people of the Americas have a right to democracy and
their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.'' This
year, we also observe the United Nations' and the Organization of
American States' designation of 2011 as the International Year for
People of African Descent, an opportunity to recognize the myriad ways
that men and women of African descent have strengthened our countries
and enriched our societies.
The Americas demonstrate to countries around the world the strength of
democracy as a means of supporting people's yearnings for freedom and
the pursuit of happiness, but we know our work is far from finished.
Many citizens in our region live in poverty or lack access to jobs and
economic opportunity, and some suffer injustice and human rights

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violations, including freedom of expression. In Haiti and in other
places where natural disasters have struck, many lack access to basic
necessities. As we come together to build our economies, increase
cooperation on citizen security and trade, and promote democracy, we
know our friendships, partnerships, and shared principles will help us
overcome today's challenges and build a safer and more prosperous
future.
As we celebrate Pan American Day and Pan American Week, let us
reemphasize the cooperation between all nations of the Americas as a
vital part of our interconnected world. Together, we will continue to
build on our partnerships of equality and shared responsibility and
demonstrate that change is possible, every nation can be free, and there
can be no denying the dignity and human rights our countries uphold.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 14, 2011, as Pan
American Day and April 10 through April 16, 2011, as Pan American Week.
I urge the Governors of the 50 States, the Governor of the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag of the
United States of America to honor these observances with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA