National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2009, 51443-51444 [E9-24289]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 7, 2009 / Presidential Documents
51443
Presidential Documents
Proclamation 8428 of October 1, 2009
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2009
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of all ages, leaving a
devastating impact on women, men, and children of every background and
circumstance. A family’s home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and
desperation when a woman is battered by her partner, a child witnesses
the abuse of a loved one, or a senior is victimized by family members.
Since the 1994 passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act,
championed by then Senator Joe Biden, our Nation has strengthened its
response to this crime and increased services for victims. Still, far too
many women and families in this country and around the world are affected
by domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month,
we recommit ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our communities, and our country.
To effectively respond to domestic violence, we must provide assistance
and support that meets the immediate needs of victims. Facing social isolation, victims can find it difficult to protect themselves and their children.
They require safe shelter and housing, medical care, access to justice, culturally specific services, and economic opportunity. The Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisis intervention
programs, and community education about domestic violence.
In the best of economic times, victims worry about finding a job and housing,
and providing for their children; these problems only intensify during periods
of financial stress. That is why the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act provides $325 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). This funding will supplement the
Federal VAWA and VOCA dollars that flow to communities every year,
and enable States, local governments, tribes, and victim service providers
to retain and hire personnel that can serve victims and hold offenders
accountable. These funds will also bring relief to victims seeking a safe
place to live for themselves and their children.
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with PROPOSALS
Victims of violence often suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn,
with little or no guidance and support. Sadly, this tragedy does not just
affect adults. Even when children are not directly injured by violence, exposure to violence in the home can contribute to behavioral, social, and emotional problems. High school students who report having experienced physical violence in a dating relationship are more likely to use drugs and
alcohol, are at greater risk of suicide, and may carry patterns of abuse
into future relationships. Our efforts to address domestic violence must
include these young victims.
During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence.
By providing young people with education about healthy relationships, and
by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize that domestic
violence can be prevented. We must build the capacity of our Nation’s
victim service providers to reach and serve those in need. We urge community leaders to raise awareness and bring attention to this quiet crisis.
And across America, we encourage victims and their families to call the
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 7, 2009 / Presidential Documents
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–SAFE. Together, we must
ensure that, in America, no victim of domestic violence ever struggles alone.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2009, as
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I ask all Americans to do
their part to end domestic violence in this country by supporting their
communities’ efforts to assist victims in finding the help and healing they
need.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
[FR Doc. E9–24289
Filed 10–6–09; 8:45 am]
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erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with PROPOSALS
Billing code 3195–W9–P
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 51443-51444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24289]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 7, 2009 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 51443]]
Proclamation 8428 of October 1, 2009
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2009
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of all
ages, leaving a devastating impact on women, men, and
children of every background and circumstance. A
family's home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness,
and desperation when a woman is battered by her
partner, a child witnesses the abuse of a loved one, or
a senior is victimized by family members. Since the
1994 passage of the landmark Violence Against Women
Act, championed by then Senator Joe Biden, our Nation
has strengthened its response to this crime and
increased services for victims. Still, far too many
women and families in this country and around the world
are affected by domestic violence. During National
Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit
ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our
communities, and our country.
To effectively respond to domestic violence, we must
provide assistance and support that meets the immediate
needs of victims. Facing social isolation, victims can
find it difficult to protect themselves and their
children. They require safe shelter and housing,
medical care, access to justice, culturally specific
services, and economic opportunity. The Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act supports emergency
shelters, crisis intervention programs, and community
education about domestic violence.
In the best of economic times, victims worry about
finding a job and housing, and providing for their
children; these problems only intensify during periods
of financial stress. That is why the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act provides $325 million for the
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of
Crime Act (VOCA). This funding will supplement the
Federal VAWA and VOCA dollars that flow to communities
every year, and enable States, local governments,
tribes, and victim service providers to retain and hire
personnel that can serve victims and hold offenders
accountable. These funds will also bring relief to
victims seeking a safe place to live for themselves and
their children.
Victims of violence often suffer in silence, not
knowing where to turn, with little or no guidance and
support. Sadly, this tragedy does not just affect
adults. Even when children are not directly injured by
violence, exposure to violence in the home can
contribute to behavioral, social, and emotional
problems. High school students who report having
experienced physical violence in a dating relationship
are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, are at
greater risk of suicide, and may carry patterns of
abuse into future relationships. Our efforts to address
domestic violence must include these young victims.
During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking
the cycle of violence. By providing young people with
education about healthy relationships, and by changing
attitudes that support violence, we recognize that
domestic violence can be prevented. We must build the
capacity of our Nation's victim service providers to
reach and serve those in need. We urge community
leaders to raise awareness and bring attention to this
quiet crisis. And across America, we encourage victims
and their families to call the
[[Page 51444]]
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
Together, we must ensure that, in America, no victim of
domestic violence ever struggles alone.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim October 2009, as
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I ask all
Americans to do their part to end domestic violence in
this country by supporting their communities' efforts
to assist victims in finding the help and healing they
need.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. E9-24289
Filed 10-6-09; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W9-P