1Designating the month of April 2013 as "Sexual Assault Awareness
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Sexual violence consists of a range of unacceptable
4behaviors, including rape, incest, molestation, date and
5acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital or partner rape,
6ritual abuse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, indecent
7sexual contact, sexual harassment, exhibitionism and voyeurism;
8and

9WHEREAS, One in five girls and one in six boys will be
10sexually assaulted by 18 years of age; and

11WHEREAS, In the United States, it is estimated that more than
12876,000 adult women and 111,200 adult men each year are
13subjected to the traumatic experience of being raped; and

1WHEREAS, Victims of sexual violence are more likely to
2experience long-term mental health consequences, including
3suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders, substance
4abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, psychiatric
5hospitalizations and post-traumatic stress disorder; and

6WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
7identified sexual violence as an urgent and costly public health
8crisis; and

9WHEREAS, The American Medical Association has stated that
10sexual violence is a silent, violent epidemic which is growing
11at alarming rates and traumatizing the women, men and children
12of this nation; and

13WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law
14enforcement agencies across the nation indicate that sexual
15violence is the most underreported crime in the United States,
16with only an average of 31% of rape and sexual assault incidents
17being reported to police; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
19month of April 2013 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in
20Pennsylvania and recognize that it is time to take action
21against sexual violence by uniting the efforts of all who work
22on behalf of victims of sexual violence to educate individuals
23to prevent sexual violence and to eliminate sexual crimes in our
24communities.