08-01-2025

Captive Nations Week, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: This Presidential Proclamation designates the third week of July 2025 as "Captive Nations Week." It is a symbolic, annual declaration expressing U.S. solidarity with people living under totalitarian and oppressive regimes worldwide.

Money: This proclamation carries no direct financial impact. It does not appropriate funds or have a score from the Congressional Budget Office.

Your Impact: For the average American, the direct impact is minimal. The proclamation is a statement of foreign policy and national values, encouraging awareness and remembrance rather than mandating any specific action.

Status: This is a final executive action, signed by the President on July 25, 2025. It is not legislation pending before Congress.

What's Actually in the Proclamation

This document is a formal declaration by the President, continuing a tradition established by a 1959 law. It reaffirms a U.S. foreign policy stance against tyranny and in support of liberty for oppressed people.

Core Provisions:

  • Designates the week of July 20 through July 26, 2025, as Captive Nations Week.
  • Offers "heartfelt support" to every person living under a totalitarian regime.
  • Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to defending rights of free speech, religious liberty, and self-government.
  • Calls upon all Americans to observe the week with "appropriate ceremonies and activities" to show support for those striving for liberty and justice.

Stated Purpose (from the President):

The proclamation states its goal is to advance a new era of peace and freedom.

  1. To counter the threat of oppressive regimes that silence dissent and persecute citizens.
  2. To defend religious freedom around the world through the work of the Religious Liberty Commission, the White House Faith Office, and the Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom.
  3. To affirm that legitimate governments derive power from the consent of the governed.
  4. To advance the cause of peace, liberty, and human dignity across the globe.

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Foreign Policy, Human Rights, International Diplomacy.
Timeline: The designated week is July 20-26, 2025.
Scope: This is a U.S. proclamation with a global focus, intended to message support to international populations and diaspora communities within the United States.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

Cold War Era (1950s):

Following World War II, the rise of the Soviet Union and its control over Eastern European nations led to the popularization of the term "captive nations." Amidst the growing Cold War, a movement began in the United States to formally recognize the plight of those living under communist rule. This effort was championed by figures like Lev Dobriansky, a Ukrainian-American economist.

1959:

In response to public sentiment and advocacy, the 86th Congress passed a joint resolution, Public Law 86-90. The law, approved on July 17, 1959, established the third week of July as an annual "Captive Nations Week" and requested the President to issue a proclamation each year. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first proclamation, naming specific nations under Soviet domination and dedicating the week to supporting their aspirations for freedom.

Post-Cold War Era (1990s-Present):

With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the focus of Captive Nations Week evolved. While retaining its anti-communist roots, the observance broadened to include solidarity with people oppressed by any form of authoritarian government. Every U.S. President, regardless of party, has continued the tradition of issuing a proclamation each July, adapting the message to reflect contemporary global challenges.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • Mandated Tradition: Issuing the proclamation fulfills a requirement set forth in the 1959 law (Pub. L. 86-90). Failing to do so would be a break from a 66-year-old bipartisan tradition.
  • Foreign Policy Messaging: The annual proclamation serves as a platform for the current administration to articulate its foreign policy priorities regarding human rights, religious freedom, and democracy.
  • Domestic Audience: The proclamation resonates with various diaspora communities in the U.S. whose countries of origin remain under authoritarian rule, as well as with religious and human rights advocacy groups.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation primarily affects international perceptions and specific U.S. diaspora communities; it does not have a direct, tangible effect on the daily lives of most Americans.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • For Americans with personal or ancestral ties to nations under oppressive rule, the proclamation can be a meaningful symbol of solidarity from the U.S. government.
  • It can raise public awareness about the state of human rights and democracy in various parts of the world.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (N/A):

  • There are no direct costs, new taxes, or inconveniences for the general public associated with this proclamation.

Long-term:

  • There are no permanent changes to U.S. domestic regulations or services. The long-term impact is in the consistent reinforcement of a U.S. foreign policy value.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Human rights organizations, religious freedom advocates, and U.S. residents from countries such as China, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
Secondary Groups: U.S. diplomats and foreign service officers who may reference the proclamation in their work.
Regional Impact: There is no specific regional impact within the United States.

Bottom Line: This proclamation is an annual, symbolic act of foreign policy that reinforces U.S. support for people living under authoritarian regimes but does not create new laws or programs for Americans.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "A Reaffirmation of Strength and Freedom"

Core Stance: Strong and consistent support for the tradition, with an emphasis on anti-communism, national sovereignty, and religious liberty.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Praises the clear denunciation of totalitarianism and the specific mention of defending religious freedom.
  • ✓ Supports the principle that American rights are "from God," aligning with a common conservative viewpoint.
  • ⚠️ May debate which nations pose the greatest threat and the most effective means (diplomatic, economic, or military) to counter them.
  • ✗ Would likely oppose any attempt to weaken the proclamation's language or discontinue the tradition.

Legislative Strategy: As this is an executive action, the strategy is not legislative but demonstrative. The issuance of the proclamation itself is the action, used to signal the administration's foreign policy resolve.

Democratic Position: "A Commitment to Universal Human Rights"

Core Stance: Strong and consistent support for the tradition, with an emphasis on promoting democratic ideals, international cooperation, and universal human rights.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Supports the underlying message of solidarity with oppressed peoples and the promotion of democracy.
  • ✓ Often emphasizes working with allies and through multilateral institutions to advance human rights.
  • ⚠️ Might prefer framing based on secular "universal human rights" rather than divinely granted rights.
  • ✗ Would also oppose any effort to end the annual observance.

Legislative Strategy: Like Republicans, the strategy is executive. Democratic administrations have historically used the proclamation to highlight their commitment to global democracy and partnerships.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The proclamation is issued based on a direct authorization from Congress, Public Law 86-90 (73 Stat. 212), passed on July 17, 1959. Furthermore, the President has broad, inherent powers under Article II of the Constitution to conduct foreign affairs and issue ceremonial proclamations.

Relevant Portion of the Law (Public Law 86-90): "[The President is] authorized and requested...to issue a proclamation designating the third week of July of each year as 'Captive Nations Week'..."

Constitutional Implications:

Separation of Powers: This is a clear example of Congress authorizing an action and the Executive carrying it out, representing a functional, cooperative relationship between the two branches.
Precedent: There is an unbroken, 66-year precedent of Presidents from both parties issuing this proclamation annually since 1959.
Federalism: The subject matter is foreign affairs and national sentiment, which falls squarely within the powers of the federal government, not the states.

Potential Legal Challenges:

None. The proclamation is a symbolic, non-binding statement authorized by law. It does not create any new legal obligations or restrictions on citizens and therefore lacks the grounds for a legal challenge.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE OF CAPTIVE NATIONS

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I appreciate the continued U.S. support for Captive Nations Week. I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to continue supporting human rights and democracy abroad."
  • Share Online: Post the President's proclamation or information about Captive Nations Week on social media to raise awareness.

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Find contact information for members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and write to them about specific human rights issues you care about.
  • Join an Organization: Consider supporting or joining advocacy groups that work on these issues, such as the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

TO OPPOSE THIS PROCLAMATION'S APPROACH

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town]. I believe the 'Captive Nations' framework is outdated, and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to support a different approach to foreign policy that prioritizes [e.g., diplomacy, non-intervention]."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper explaining your perspective on the history of Captive Nations Week and why you believe U.S. foreign policy should evolve.
  • Join an Organization: Research and support groups that advocate for foreign policy positions you align with, such as those focusing on diplomacy, international law, or anti-interventionism.