victims to suffer physical and emotional trauma, anxiety,
stress, sleep deprivation, loss of confidence, fear and, in some
cases, injury and death by suicide or homicide; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence is one of the most chronically
underreported crimes; and
WHEREAS, One in every four women and one in every nine men
will experience domestic violence in her or his lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Each year, approximately 2.3 million people in the
United States are physically or sexually assaulted by a current
or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend; and
WHEREAS, On average, three women are killed by a current or
former intimate partner each day in the United States; and
WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Domestic Violence, in 2013, there were 158 fatalities associated
with domestic violence, which represents a 10% increase from
2012; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's network of domestic violence shelters
and programs had to turn away more than 5,000 requests for
shelter in 2011-2012 because of lack of capacity; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
reported in 2011-2012 that local domestic violence hotlines
handled more than 130,000 calls; and
WHEREAS, The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8
billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical
and mental health services; and
WHEREAS, Less than 20% of victims who report an injury from
intimate partner violence seek medical treatment following the
injury; and
WHEREAS, Victims of domestic violence lose almost 8 million
days of paid work annually as a result of the violence; and
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