HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-042Resolution
RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 2009 AS
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, sexual assault is an intolerable violent crime with public health implications for
every person in County of Butte as a victimisurvivor or as a family member, significant other,
neighbor or co-worker of a victimisurvivor; and
WHEREAS, Harmful attitudes about rape and sexual assault allow these crimes to persist and
allow survivors to be revictimized through victim-blaming attitudes; and
WHEREAS, "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and "Denim Day California" are also intended
as methods of calling attention to misconceptions and misinformation about rape and sexual
assault, as well as the problem that many in our society remain disturbingly uninformed about
assault and forcible rape; and
WHEREAS, The importance of this issue is underlined by statistics indicating that
approximately one-in-four women and one-in-ten men are raped in adulthood and the sexual
assault victimization rate far youths under 18 years of age has been documented as one-in-four
for girls and one-in-six for boys; and
WHEREAS, no one person, organization, agency or community can eliminate sexual assault on
their awn-we must work together to educate our entire population about what can be done to
prevent sexual assault, support victimisurvivors and their significant others, and increase
support for agencies providing.services to victim/survivors; and
WHEREAS, Rape Crisis intervention & Prevention has led the way in County of Butte in
addressing sexual assault by providing 24-hour hotline services to victim/survivors and their
significant others, responding to emergency calls, offering support and comfort to those
impacted by sexual assault during medical exams, criminal proceedings, and empowering those
impacted by sexual assault to chart their own course for healing; and
WHEREAS, ending sexual assault in County of Butte must include active public and private
effort to Speak Out Against Sexual Violence in collaboration with Rape Crisis Intervention &
Prevention, including conversation about what sexual violence is, how to prevent it, how to help
survivors connect with crucial counseling and other support services, and how every segment of
our society can work together #o better address sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, staff and volunteers of sexual assault programs in County of Butte work year
around to encourage every person in County of Butte to Speak Out Againsf Sexual Violence
and to support survivors by providing prevention education and survivor empowerment
information to schools, churches, civic organiza#ions, as well as medical, mental health, law
enforcement, education, and criminal justice personnel regarding sexual assault issues;
WHEREAS, Rape Crisis Intervention & Prevention has set an important example of how forging
collaborative relationships between service agencies and organizations serves to improve the
quality of service for those most profoundly and directly impacted by sexual violence, thus
setting an important example for haw the rest of the community might work together to speak
out and find solutions to sexual violence;
WHEREAS, Rape Crisis Intervention & Prevention requests public support and assistance as it
continues its effort to bring real hope for freeing County of Butte from the tragedy of sexual
violence to create a future where ali women, men and children can five free from violence and
exploitation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED tha# the Board of Supervisors does hereby proclaim
April as SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH in Butte County_
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors on this 24th day of
March 2009 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Dolan, Kirk, Lambert, Yamaguchi
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
NOT VOTING: None
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By:
~(.
Bill Connelly, Chair
Butte County Board of Supervisors
Officer