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