THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, DAVIS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, HENNESSEY, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, MANN, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, M. O'BRIEN, READSHAW, SANTONI, SONNEY, SWANGER AND TOEPEL, APRIL 25, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 25, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating April 28, 2012, 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 the age of 18 and 20% to 25% of college

women will experience attempted or completed rape during

college; and

WHEREAS, Friends and acquaintances commit between 80% and 90%

of the sexual assaults against women on college campuses; and

WHEREAS, Adults commit most sexual abuse incidents against

children, with adults comprising 77% of the perpetrators and

juveniles making up 23%, and most child victims of sexual abuse

know a perpetrator before an incident; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, more than 800,000 adult women

and 110,000 adult men yearly face the traumatic experience of

rape, while an unknown number 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 posttraumatic 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, Sexual Assault Awareness Month 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

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 as the

first rape crisis center in Pennsylvania and the United States

and has worked toward eliminating all forms of sexual violence

and has 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 equally raised its voice to inform and spur

the public to action, including through the sponsorship of the

Seventh Annual "Take It All Back" Community Walk along Market

Street in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 28, starting at 11:30

a.m. at Love Park and continuing with speakers and other

activities until 3 p.m. at the Independence Visitor's Center to

raise awareness about sexual violence; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April

28, 2012, 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 communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize WOAR

and PCAR for their efforts to stop and prevent sexual violence

and abuse in all forms and to assist the survivors of such

incidents and honor both groups for events such as the "Take It

All Back" Community Walk on April 28 that will educate and

inform the public about such incidents and help support

survivors of such incidents.