Domestic Violence Awareness Month
WHEREAS, the crime of domestic violence violates an individual’s privacy and dignity, as well as their security and humanity, and these crimes involve the use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and economic control and abuse; and
WHEREAS, the problems of domestic violence are not confined to any group or groups of people, but cut across all segments of society; and
WHEREAS, there were more than 63,000 calls to domestic and sexual violence hotlines across Virginia in 2009; and
WHEREAS, more than 6,500 adults and children received almost 255,000 nights of emergency or temporary shelter due to domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, more than 62,000 emergency, preliminary, and final protective orders were issued by magistrates and courts across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence agencies throughout Virginia provide vital services to victims, including crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, intervention, and programs for children and teenagers; and
WHEREAS, in addition to psychological and physical trauma caused by domestic violence, families and businesses across Virginia suffer serious economic loss due to medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters and foster care; and absenteeism; and
WHEREAS, public officials and all citizens of the Commonwealth must continuously strive to improve the services and support for Virginia’s domestic violence victims and survivors; and
WHEREAS, national surveys find that most Americans hold significant misperceptions about domestic violence, indicating a serious need to increase public awareness of such issues; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert F. McDonnell, do hereby recognize October 2010 as DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens; and
FURTHERMORE, I encourage all of our citizens to remember domestic violence victims and their families, promote the programs and organizations that serve them, and participate in community awareness efforts.