PRINTER'S NO. 2153
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
456
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ, BREWSTER, KITCHEN, SCHWANK, FONTANA,
SABATINA, GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, DINNIMAN, COSTA,
VULAKOVICH, GORDNER, BARTOLOTTA, RAFFERTY, FARNESE,
HUTCHINSON, MENSCH, BROWNE, KILLION, YUDICHAK, BAKER AND
WARD, OCTOBER 17, 2016
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 17, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of October 2016 as "Domestic Violence
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior
used to establish power and control over an intimate partner;
and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence often causes emotional harm to
victims, their children, other family members, friends,
neighbors and coworkers; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence affects women and men of all
racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic
backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence takes many forms, and the victims
of domestic violence are often subjected to physical abuse,
harassment, threats, vandalism, trespassing, burglary, theft and
stalking; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence often escalates over time, causing
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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 2015, there were 146 fatalities associated
with domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
reported in 2014 that 20% of teenagers reported that they had
been the victim or perpetrator of physical or sexual abuse; 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
WHEREAS, Each year, businesses forfeit about $100 million in
lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and nonproductivity; and
WHEREAS, Each year, domestic violence programs in
Pennsylvania provide services to approximately 95,000 victims of
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domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, Thirty percent to sixty percent of perpetrators of
intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home; and
WHEREAS, Children who witness domestic violence in their
homes are 74% more likely to commit criminal assaults as adults;
and
WHEREAS, At-risk individuals and families need education
relating to their legal rights, judicial proceedings, advocacy,
counseling and support services, shelter care and crisis
intervention; and
WHEREAS, The strength of this Commonwealth relies on healthy,
peaceful families and the safety of its residents, especially
women and children, and this strength must be ensured by
immediate intervention of the State's justice system and other
responsible and appropriate services; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of October 2016
as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 3605
Vartan Way, Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
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