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By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

WHEREAS, domestic violence does not discriminate and affects all communities; and, 

WHEREAS, family and intimate partner homicides continue to represent over one third of all homicides in the Commonwealth, and without intervention, cycles of violence can perpetuate through generations; and, 

WHEREAS, it is critical that those seeking help or services have access to trauma-informed care and services; and, 

WHEREAS, in 1987, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) observed the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month and established the first Monday in October as the National Day of Unity; and, 

WHEREAS, during the month of October, Virginia victim-advocates, domestic and sexual violence centers, government agencies, and communities come together to recognize those who work to end violence, to celebrate those who have survived, and to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence; and, 

WHEREAS, in 2021, over 70,000 survivors received help from hotline advocates and 6,300 people received 216,725 nights of emergency shelter due to domestic violence; and, 

WHEREAS, across the Commonwealth in 2021, judges and magistrates issued more than 56,000 emergency protective orders to protect the immediate health and safety of survivors and their families; and, 

WHEREAS, domestic violence agencies and partners gather on October 3rd to remember those who lost their lives to domestic violence, honor the resilience of survivors and spread awareness about domestic violence across the Commonwealth; and, 

WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for domestic violence advocacy agencies, systems-partners, communities, and allies celebrate with domestic violence survivors and increase opportunities to educate communities, support families, and prevent domestic violence in the Commonwealth; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize October 2022 as DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.