Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 3.djvu/1313

 PROCLAMATION 4590—AUG. 25, 1978

92 STAT. 3945

Education is one of the most important gifts our society can give to its people in helping them fulfill their human potential. Especially in our modern world, adequate communication skills are essential. Education and training to promote literacy are central to our efforts to improve the lives of all people, and guarantee their basic human rights. Every illiterate adult is an indictment of us all. In our own nation, and in nations across the world, significant efforts have been made to advance literacy, and bring its benefits to every man and woman. Our concern and dedication to this cause have brought results, but there still remains great progress to be made. Around the world, eight hundred million people lack effective reading or writing skills. For the past 12 years, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has set aside September 8 as Literacy Day. The United States has always joined with oth?r nations in recognizing the need to advance Uteracy among people everywhere, to promote our cherished human rights. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIMMY CARTER, President of the United Ststes of America, do hereby proclaim September 8, 1978, as International Literacy Day, and I call upon the people of the United States to assess and strengthen our commitment to eliminating illiteracy both at home and abroad, recognizing that in so doing we are helping people everywhere open a gateway to many other human rights as well. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and third. JIMMY CARTER

Proclamation 4590

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August 25, 1978

Women's Equality Day, 1978 By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation August 26, 1978, is the 58th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing that the right of United States citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the Federal government or any state on account of sex. This was the successful culmination of the struggle of the American Women's Suffrage movement. The right to vote, to participate in the process of framing the laws under which we all live, is fundamental. But it was only the first step in achieving full equality for women. The late Dr. Alice Paul realized this, drafted the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and had it introduced in Congress over a period of 49 years, until it passed on March 22, 1972. Women have made substantial progress toward full equality in recent years, partly as a result of the national debate on the Equal Rights Amendment, which has made many people aware of existing injustices. Despite this progress, strong action is still needed to guarantee women full equality of opportunity. I personally believe that ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment can be the single most important step in guaranteeing all Americans—both women and men—

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