-
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-228
In the Council of the District of Columbia
July 14, 2014
To declare October of 2014 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, in 2013, there were 32,794 domestic violence related calls made to the Metropolitan Police Department, an increase of nearly 1,000 from 2012;
WHEREAS, as of July 2, 2014, 12 women and 3 children in the District of Columbia have been murdered in cases related to domestic violence this year, alone, compared to the 11 women in total in 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; in 2013, local providers were unable to fulfill 52 service requests from victims seeking alternative living arrangements;
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 schools and
out;
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 2014”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in
the District of Columbia Register.
