Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2011

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 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.