PRINTER'S NO. 3121
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
793
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, DiGIROLAMO, SIMS, CORBIN, YOUNGBLOOD,
KIM, HENNESSEY, VEREB, KIRKLAND, ROZZI, LONGIETTI, GODSHALL,
WATSON, DUSH, SONNEY, KOTIK, SCHREIBER, FRANKEL, READSHAW,
MILLARD, V. BROWN, O'BRIEN, D. COSTA, SCHLOSSBERG, PASHINSKI,
MURT, BULLOCK, DAVIS, HEFFLEY, BIZZARRO, CALTAGIRONE, TOEPEL,
NEILSON, MATZIE, McNEILL, ROSS, WHEELAND, OBERLANDER,
GOODMAN, KINSEY, MAJOR, PHILLIPS-HILL, MARSICO, BRADFORD,
BENNINGHOFF, GINGRICH AND FARINA, APRIL 8, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 8, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating April 16, 2016, as "Take It All Back Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Sexual violence and abuse can involve a range of
unacceptable behaviors, including rape, incest, molestation,
date and acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital or partner
rape, ritual abuse, adult and child sexual exploitation, forced
prostitution, indecent sexual contact, sexual harassment,
exhibitionism, pornography, Internet-based child sexual abuse,
voyeurism and inappropriate touching; and
WHEREAS, One in four girls and one in six boys will become a
sexual assault victim by 18 years of age, and 20% to 25% of
college women will experience attempted rape or rape during
their college years; and
WHEREAS, Friends and acquaintances commit between 80% and 90%
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of the sexual assaults against women on college campuses; and
WHEREAS, Adults commit most sexual abuse incidents against
children, with adults comprising two-thirds of the perpetrators
and juveniles making up one-third, and most child victims of
sexual abuse know a perpetrator before an incident; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, more than 250,000 individuals
face the traumatic experience of rape each year while an unknown
number of individuals survive other forms of sexual violence and
abuse; and
WHEREAS, Victims of sexual violence will more than likely
experience long-term mental health consequences, including
suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders, substance
abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, psychiatric
hospitalizations and post-traumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
identified sexual violence as an urgent and costly public health
crisis, and the American Medical Association has stated that
sexual violence serves as a silent, violent epidemic that grows
at alarming rates and traumatizes women, men and children of
this nation; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law
enforcement agencies nationwide indicate that sexual violence is
the most underreported crime, with only an average of 31% of
rape and sexual assault incidents being reported to the police;
and
WHEREAS, April serves as "National Sexual Assault Awareness
Month," which is intended to draw attention to the fact that
sexual violence is widespread and has public health implications
for every resident in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Residents throughout this Commonwealth can work
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together to prevent sexual assault and to support survivors; and
WHEREAS, Groups such as WOAR, formerly known as Women
Organized Against Rape, and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Rape (PCAR) have a history of working to stop sexual violence
and abuse; and
WHEREAS, WOAR was organized in Philadelphia in 1971 and
incorporated in 1973 as the first rape crisis center in
Pennsylvania and in the United States and has worked toward
eliminating all forms of sexual violence and advocated for the
rights of victims of sexual assault and abuse through a
comprehensive array of services for adult and child survivors of
sexual assault, their family members and communities across
Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, PCAR was formed in 1975 and works to eliminate all
forms of sexual violence and to advocate for the rights and
needs of victims of sexual assault by challenging public
attitudes, raising public awareness and effecting critical
changes in public policy, protocols and responses to sexual
violence; and
WHEREAS, PCAR and the National Sexual Violence Resource
Center have officially observed April as "National Sexual
Assault Awareness Month" since 2001 and continue to organize
events for the observance and education of the public about the
problems of sexual violence and abuse and the need for action to
stop and prevent them; and
WHEREAS, WOAR has raised its voice to inform and spur the
public to action, through the sponsorship of the 11th annual
Take It All Back Community Walk along Market Street in
Philadelphia on Saturday, April 16, 2016, starting at 10 a.m. at
Dilworth Park and continuing with speakers and other activities
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until 2 p.m. at the Independence Visitor Center, to raise
awareness about sexual violence; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
April 16, 2016, as "Take It All Back Day" in Pennsylvania and
urge all its members and all residents of this Commonwealth to
join together with groups such as WOAR and PCAR in events such
as the Take It All Back Community Walk and their efforts during
"National Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in April and
throughout the year to work on behalf of victims of sexual
violence to educate individuals in preventing sexual violence
and eliminate sexual crimes in our community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize WOAR
and PCAR and other similar groups for their efforts to stop and
prevent sexual violence and abuse in all forms and to assist the
survivors of such incidents; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor WOAR and
PCAR and others for events such as the Take It All Back
Community Walk on April 16, 2016, that will educate and inform
the public about such incidents and help support survivors of
such incidents.
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