PROCLAMATION 5040—APR. 4, 1983 97 STAT. 1565 Children may be endangered by physical battering, denial of the basic ne- cessities for life and health, sexual abuse and exploitation, or emotional cruelty. Public concern can help prevent maltreatment and help protect chil- dren. Action taken after cruelty has occurred is often too late. Prevention of abuse requires that neighborhoods and communities be attentive to the problems of families in their midst and be willing to help when help is needed. It requires the active concern of educational, medical, mental health, law enforcement, and social service professionals, and the efforts of volunteers and private citizens. The health and well-being of our children underlie the future of our Nation. The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 21, has recognized the need for Ante, p. 12. public attention to prevention of child abuse and has requested me to pro- claim April 1983 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of April 1983 as "National Child Abuse Prevention Month." I urge all citizens to renew our Nation's commit- ment to meet the serious challenge that child abuse and child neglect pose to the welfare of our children and families. I invite the Governors of the States; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Territories; the Mayor of the District of Columbia; the heads of volun- tary and private groups; and the offices of local, State and Federal govern- ment to join in this observance. I also urge them to encourage activities whose purpose is to prevent and treat child abuse and child neglect. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sev- enth. RONALD REAGAN Proclamation 5040 of April 4, 1983 Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 1983 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation For the last fifty-two years, the proclamation of an annual Pan American Day has brought to the attention of the world the unique harmony of ideals inspiring the nations of the western hemisphere. These common goals of peace, prosperity, and freedom serve as the foundation for the Organization of American States, which is charged with upholding and defending these principles. The OAS has succeeded admirably in maintaining and strengthening the traditipnal bonds of friendship among the peoples of the Americas. At the same time, the peacekeeping mechanisms forged by the OAS member na- tions have proved effective in preventing the level of conflict that has af- flicted other areas of the globe. The commitment of the Pan American nations to work together to solve their problems has prompted the creation of several specialized inter- American agencies. These agencies, along with the major councils of the OAS, have been instrumental in promoting the economic, social, scientific.
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