PRINTER'S NO. 667
No. 35 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY BLAUM, DeWEESE, BUXTON, GORDNER, ZUG, MASLAND,
LESCOVITZ, HERMAN, SAYLOR, KREBS, BEBKO-JONES, TIGUE, MUNDY,
MARKOSEK, TRELLO, STERN, RUBLEY, COY, DALEY, OLASZ, ROONEY,
YEWCIC, STURLA, FICHTER, GEIST, FREEMAN, CURRY, JAMES,
HARLEY, M. N. WRIGHT, SCHULER, PISTELLA, PLATTS, J. TAYLOR,
DENT, JOSEPHS, ULIANA, MILLER, BATTISTO, TANGRETTI, KASUNIC,
GERLACH, McCALL, STABACK, VEON, PESCI, E. Z. TAYLOR, MELIO,
BELFANTI, GIGLIOTTI, RUDY, TOMLINSON, FAJT, O'BRIEN, BAKER,
LAUGHLIN, CORRIGAN, DRUCE AND L. I. COHEN, MARCH 22, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 22, 1993
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of April 1993 as "Sexual Assault Awareness
2 Month."
3 WHEREAS, Sexual violence has a devastating impact on the
4 lives of sexual assault victims in this Commonwealth; and
5 WHEREAS, Sexual violence affects all racial, ethnic,
6 economic, geographic and social groups, regardless of age or
7 gender; and
8 WHEREAS, The incidence of recorded rapes continues to rise
9 with over 3,000 victims in Pennsylvania reporting assaults to
10 the police each year; and
11 WHEREAS, Many victims of sexual assault are discouraged from
12 reporting the offense to police due to feelings of guilt,
13 embarrassment, fear and anxiety so that the true incidence of
14 rape extends beyond the number of reported acts; and
1 WHEREAS, The problems of acquaintance rape on our college and
2 university campuses continue to present challenges; and
3 WHEREAS, There is a need for public understanding of the
4 dynamics of all forms of sexual violence; and
5 WHEREAS, There is a need for a broader understanding of the
6 dynamics of acquaintance rape and sexual harassment in our
7 educational institutions and in the workplace; and
8 WHEREAS, The demand for support for sexual assault victims in
9 rape crisis centers throughout this Commonwealth continues to
10 rise; and
11 WHEREAS, Rape crisis centers must rely on public support
12 through community awareness and education in order to impact
13 upon the crime of sexual violence; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
15 need to promote an awareness of the nature and extent of sexual
16 violence in this Commonwealth and to develop appropriate
17 strategies to combat such violence; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
19 need to educate children and all citizens of this Commonwealth
20 on helpful techniques to prevent sexual violence in the home and
21 community; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
23 need to work with hospitals, law enforcement agencies,
24 educational institutions and the private sector toward creating
25 an environment in which victims of sexual violence receive the
26 support necessary to help them cope with their victimization;
27 and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
29 important work of the rape crisis centers in providing support
30 and advocacy for sexual assault victims, as well as their
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1 commitment to public education on sexual assault issues; and be
2 it further
3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
4 month of April 1993 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and
5 encourage all of its members to participate in the events that
6 will occur in their communities at that time, as well as to
7 promote the preventive and supportive work of the rape crisis
8 centers located in their districts.
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