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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-89
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
July 14, 2015
To declare October 2015 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used to exert power and
control over an intimate partner;
WHEREAS, the dignity, safety, and well-being of all residents is the foundation of a
vibrant and healthy community and intimate partner violence is an epidemic in the District of
Columbia that impedes the welfare of all;
WHEREAS, an estimated one out of every 4 women will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime, and, based on that information, there may be as many as 75,000 victims of domestic violence residing in the District;
WHEREAS, 32,940 domestic violence-related calls were made to the Metropolitan Police Department in 2014, approximately one call every 16 minutes.
WHEREAS, 5,048 petitions for Civil Protection Orders were filed in 2014; this is a small increase over the number of filings in 2013, and 7% increase over 2012;
WHEREAS, all forms of domestic violence, including physical, psychological,
emotional, and economic abuse, have devastating long-term effects on victims, and place a strain
on the District’s legal and social services systems and overall resources;
WHEREAS, many victims are forced to remain in dangerous situations due to their inability to access long-term affordable housing; according to the 2014 Homeless Point-in-Time count report, 27% of District of Columbia homeless families reported a history of domestic violence and 15% were currently homeless as a direct result of a violent incident;
WHEREAS, nationally, domestic violence affects employment, resulting in 3 to 5 billion dollars’ worth of lost wages and reduced productivity each year;
WHEREAS, domestic violence has a major effect on children and teens, and the building
blocks of healthy relationships and consequences of abuse must be addressed both in and out of schools;
WHEREAS, the District has taken important steps to help victims of domestic violence,
by providing life-saving public emergency services, establishing 24-hour hotlines, and ensuring
that high-quality services are available to every victim seeking help through the proactive efforts
of the Office of Victim Services; and
WHEREAS, eradicating domestic violence requires the commitment and support of not
only the government but continued public awareness, as well as acknowledgment and
responsibility by and for all.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia recognizes the severity of the domestic violence crisis in the District of Columbia and continues to raise public awareness and bring this often hidden issue into the open, and declares October of 2014 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Domestic Violence Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in
the District of Columbia Register.
