[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 17979-17980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8785]
[[Page 17977]]
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Part VII
The President
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Proclamation 6781--National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 67 / Friday, April 7, 1995 /
Presidential Documents
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Title 3--
The President
[[Page 17979]]
Proclamation 6781 of April 4, 1995
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 1995
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Childhood should be a special time. Every child should
grow up in an atmosphere of love and respect. Children
should have a chance to learn, to explore and develop,
to look forward to becoming successful, happy, and
loving adults. Yet tragically, for a growing number of
children in the United States, childhood is an ordeal
of violence, pain, and broken promises--a time to
endure, not one to cherish.
Child abuse and neglect in America are on the rise.
Nationwide, nearly 3 million children are reported
abused and neglected each year, and more than 1,200 die
from the effects. Although public concern about
violence against our Nation's youth is extremely high,
many Americans don't know what role they can play in
protecting them. For that reason, each April,
communities across the country join together to raise
public awareness, to call for an end to child abuse,
and to let everyone know what they can do to help.
This year, National Child Abuse Prevention Month
focuses on the simple truth, ``The more you help, the
less they hurt.'' The goal is to teach all Americans
how they can help end the cycle of abuse and neglect
that tears at the very fabric of our families, our
communities, and our country. Because the effects of
child abuse are felt by whole communities, the search
for solutions must be a community-wide effort--and
every citizen must get involved.
Child abuse prevention efforts succeed because of
partnerships among social service agencies, schools,
religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, and
the business community. I encourage you to get
involved. Volunteer on a crisis hotline for parents who
are under stress, or help start a parents' support
group. Perhaps you could find space in your community
to establish a ``drop-in center'' where parents can get
information and support. You could urge your religious
or neighborhood group to sponsor a home visitor program
for new parents. Or you might help your local school
and youth organizations arrange for speakers and events
about preventing violence against children.
These are just some of the steps we can take to help
protect our children and to strengthen our families. If
we don't change things, our children--more of them each
day--will lose their chance at life. And our Nation
will lose the tremendous potential that every young
life holds.
America's children are products of the world we have
made for them. Their well-being is a reflection of our
commitment, maturity, and wisdom. If we nurture our
children and fill their lives with genuine caring and
respect, we will see our love realized in a world of
enduring hope and promise.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim the month of April 1995 as
``National Child Abuse Prevention Month.'' I call upon
all Americans [[Page 17980]] during this month and
throughout the year to help keep our children safe from
harm.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-five, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and
nineteenth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 95-8785
Filed 4-5-95; 4:18 pm]
Billing code 3195-01-P
