PRINTER'S NO. 1253
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
263
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, FRANKEL, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, LONGIETTI,
KIM, BISHOP, MILLARD, KILLION, YOUNGBLOOD, O'BRIEN,
C. PARKER, McNEILL, McCARTER, DiGIROLAMO, BROWNLEE, KINSEY,
READSHAW, SCHWEYER, WATSON, V. BROWN, GOODMAN, SCHREIBER,
THOMAS, KAVULICH, GIBBONS, PAYNE, ROSS, MAHONEY, FARINA,
GINGRICH, KIRKLAND, MAJOR AND D. COSTA, APRIL 20, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 20, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating April 25, 2015, 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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 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
together to prevent sexual assault and to support survivors; and
20150HR0263PN1253 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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 10th annual
"Take It All Back" Community Walk along Market Street in
Philadelphia on Saturday, April 25, 2015, starting at 11:30 a.m.
at Love Park and continuing with speakers and other activities
until 3 p.m. at the Independence Visitor Center, to raise
20150HR0263PN1253 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
awareness about sexual violence; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
April 25, 2015, 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 honor both groups and others for
events such as the "Take It All Back" Community Walk on
April 25, 2015, that will educate and inform the public about
such incidents and help support survivors of such incidents.
20150HR0263PN1253 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17