白宫
华盛顿哥伦比亚特区
2021年7月16日
自我国成立至今，美国经历过战争的考验，见证了一代又一代人的斗争，历来奋发蹈力尊崇自由和民主的理想。我国以自由和民主为建国之根基，拓展了世界各地人民自由行使自己权利的能力。作为全世界历史最悠久的民主政体，我们承担着特殊的责任在国内外发挥领导作用，不仅仅以我们的力量为榜样，而且以我们的榜样为力量——向我们自己和全世界证明民主可以切实为所有的人民谋利益。自艾森豪威尔总统（President Eisenhower）于1959年发布第一个受奴役民族公告（Captive Nations Proclamation）以来，世界发生了很大的变化，但公告为自由和机会发出的号召仍然确凿不移。在受奴役民族周到来之际，我们继续恪守我们对我国各项奠基性原则的承诺，大力声援世界各地为促进人权、正义和法治原则而勇敢奋斗的人们。
今天，有太多的人经常受到权力的任意蹂躏，专制政府对不同的声音采取拘押、骚扰或暴力手段；散布假消息和大肆宣传；破坏民主体制；或背弃公众的信任。这些侵权行为并非新的现象——但一如往昔对人权和自由构成了严重威胁。
任何国家或有良知的个人都不可对这些渴望自由的呼声充耳不闻。我们听见白俄罗斯人以和平的方式要求举行民主选举，勇敢的香港居民呼吁北京遵守承诺，实现中英联合声明（Sino-British Joint Declaration）和香港基本法（Basic Law）规定的自治和自由。我们听到中国新疆数百万维吾尔人和其他少数民族和宗教群体受到不公正拘押并遭到监控和强迫劳动。我们听到，人们以坚定的信念在缅甸拒绝军人统治，在委内瑞拉抵制专制、在古巴面对国家残暴的镇压手段仍走上街头要求自由，在尼加拉瓜争取自由和公正的选举——以及克里米亚鞑靼族（Crimean Tatars）、乌克兰族和其他少数民族和宗教群体因反对俄罗斯非法占领克里米亚而遭到镇压。
作为我国的立国之本，美国的信念明文昭告，人人生而平等，应该获得平等的待遇，一生享有尊严，受到尊敬。我们与世界各地勇敢的人权活动家和倡导民主的人士站在一起。他们冒着自己生命的危险为他人争取权利。我们坚定地承诺，确保全球各地受压迫的人们——包括残疾人、妇女和女孩、性别多样性群体（LGBTQI+）、原住民及少数种族和民族群体发出自己的声音并受到尊重和保护。
在受奴役民族周到来之际，我们重申，矢志坚守肩负的持久和重要的使命，促进全体人民的自由和正义。
为了完成这项使命，我们努力缔造更公平和更包容的社会，为人们解决面临的问题，减轻他们承受的重负，履行我们为全球人权和表达、结社、和平集会及宗教或信仰等基本自由发挥的领导作用。我们必须与我们的盟国和伙伴共同努力，继续加强民主制度，捍卫独立的公民社会和媒体自由，促进自由和公平的选举，保护网上人权，坚持对侵权和扶植腐败文化的人员追究责任，并抵制世界各地的专制主义。
国会（Congress）于1959年7月17日通过联合决议[美国法律总汇第73卷212页（73 Stat. 212)]，授权并要求总统每年发布公告，宣布每年7月第3个星期为“受奴役民族周”。
为此，我约瑟夫·拜登（JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.），美利坚合众国总统，宣布2021年7月18-24日为受奴役民族周。我要求全体美国人民重申我们的誓言，支持世界各地为所有人的自由和正义奋斗的人士。
我谨于公元二千零二十一年，即美利坚合众国独立二百四十六年之七月十六日在此签名为证。
约瑟夫·拜登
欲查看原稿内容:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/16/a-proclamation-on-captive-nations-week-2021/

A Proclamation on Captive Nations Week, 2021
JULY 16, 2021
From the founding of our Nation to today, through the crucibles of war and the struggle of successive generations, America has strived to uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy upon which our country was built and expand the ability of people around the world to freely exercise their rights.  As the world’s longest-standing democracy, we carry a special responsibility to lead at home and abroad, not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example — to prove to ourselves and to the world that democracy can deliver for all people.  Though much has changed in the world since President Eisenhower issued the first Captive Nations Proclamation in 1959, its call for liberty and opportunity still ring true.  During Captive Nations Week, we recommit ourselves to those principles which form the foundation of our Nation, and to amplify the voices of courageous individuals around the world who are striving to advance the principles of human rights, justice, and the rule of law.
Today, far too many people are subject to routine abuses of power, as oppressive governments detain, harass, or commit acts of violence against dissenting voices; disseminate disinformation and propaganda; undermine democratic systems; and otherwise violate the public trust.  These abuses are not new — but they remain as stern a threat to human rights and freedom as they have ever been.
No nation or person of conscience can ignore the voices of those crying out for liberty.  We hear Belarusians peacefully calling for democratic elections, and the courageous people of Hong Kong demanding the autonomy and liberty promised by Beijing under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong’s Basic Law.  We hear millions of Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, China, who have been unjustly interned and subject to surveillance and forced labor.  We hear the determination of those rejecting military rule in Burma, resisting dictatorship in Venezuela, taking to streets in Cuba to demand freedom in the face of brutal state repression, and pressing for free and fair elections in Nicaragua — as well as the Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, and other ethnic and religious minorities who suffer repression for opposing Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea.
The American creed, which defines our Nation, proclaims that all people are created equal, and deserve to be treated equally, with dignity and respect, throughout their lives.  We stand in solidarity with the brave human rights activists and pro-democracy advocates around the world who risk their lives for the rights of others.  We are committed to ensuring that all those who are oppressed across the globe — including people with disabilities, women and girls, members of the LGBTQI+ community, indigenous populations, and racial and ethnic minorities — are heard, respected, and protected.
During Captive Nations Week, we recommit ourselves to the timeless, vital work of advancing freedom and justice for all.
We do that by forging a more equitable and inclusive society, by solving problems and helping to ease the burdens people face, and by fulfilling our role as a global leader for human rights and fundamental freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and religion or belief.  Together with our allies and partners, we must continue to strengthen democratic institutions, defend independent civil society and media freedom, promote free and fair elections, protect human rights online, insist on accountability for those who commit abuses and foster cultures of corruption, and push back against authoritarianism around the world.
The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of July of each year as “Captive Nations Week.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 18 through July 24, 2021, as Captive Nations Week.  I call upon all Americans to reaffirm our commitment to championing those around the world who strive for liberty and justice for all.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.