A RESOLUTION

 

1Designating the month of October 2013 as "Domestic Violence
2Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior
4used to establish power and control over an intimate partner;
5and

6WHEREAS, Domestic violence often causes emotional harm to
7victims, their children, other family members, friends,
8neighbors and coworkers; and

9WHEREAS, Domestic violence affects women and men of all
10racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic
11backgrounds; and

12WHEREAS, Domestic violence takes many forms, the victims of
13which are often subjected to physical abuse, harassment,
14threats, vandalism, trespassing, burglary, theft and stalking;
15and

16WHEREAS, Domestic violence often escalates over time, causing

1victims to suffer physical and emotional trauma, anxiety,
2stress, sleep deprivation, loss of confidence, fear and, in some
3cases, injury and death by suicide or homicide; and

4WHEREAS, Domestic violence is one of the most chronically
5underreported crimes; and

6WHEREAS, One in every four women and one in every nine men
7will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes; and

8WHEREAS, Approximately 2.3 million people each year in the
9United States are physically or sexually assaulted by a current
10or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend; and

11WHEREAS, On average, three women are killed by a current or
12former intimate partner each day in the United States; and

13WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
14Domestic Violence, in 2012, there were 141 fatalities associated
15with domestic violence; and

16WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's network of domestic violence shelters
17and programs had to turn away more than 5,000 requests for
18shelter in 2011-2012 because of lack of capacity; and

19WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
20reported in 2011-2012 that local domestic violence hotlines
21handled more than 130,000 calls; and

22WHEREAS, The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8
23billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical
24and mental health services; and

25WHEREAS, Less than 20% of victims who report an injury from
26intimate partner violence seek medical treatment following the
27injury; and

28WHEREAS, Victims of domestic violence lose almost 8 million
29days of paid work annually as a result of the violence; and

30WHEREAS, Each year, businesses forfeit about $100 million in

1lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and nonproductivity; and

2WHEREAS, Each year, domestic violence programs in
3Pennsylvania provide services to approximately 95,000 victims of
4domestic violence; and

5WHEREAS, Thirty percent to 60% of perpetrators of intimate
6partner violence also abuse children in the home; and

7WHEREAS, Children who witness domestic violence in their
8homes are 74% more likely to commit criminal assaults as adults;
9and

10WHEREAS, At-risk individuals and families need education
11relating to their legal rights, judicial proceedings, advocacy,
12counseling and support services, shelter care and crisis
13intervention; and

14WHEREAS, The strength of the Commonwealth relies on healthy,
15peaceful families and the safety of its citizens, especially
16women and children, and this strength must be ensured by
17immediate intervention of the State's justice system and other
18responsible and appropriate services; therefore be it

19RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of October 2013
20as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
21it further

22RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
23the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 3605
24Vartan Way, Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110 and Women Against
25Abuse at 100 South Broad Street, Suite 1431, Philadelphia, PA
2619110.