National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2014

Proclamation 9099 of April 4, 2014

National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2014

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

This year marks 30 years since the passage of the
Victims of Crime Act and the Family Violence Prevention
and Services Act, and two decades since the Violence
Against Women Act became law. These milestones
represented major steps toward upholding the rights of
millions of Americans who become victims of crime each
year--from women seeking shelter after leaving abusive
relationships to families demanding justice for a loved
one's murder to children struggling to rebuild their
lives after escaping trafficking rings. During National
Crime Victims' Rights Week, we stand with these men,
women, and children, and offer our support to crime
victims everywhere.

My Administration is taking action to prevent crime,
especially against those most at risk. Every American
should have a chance to pursue their education in peace
and security, yet one in five women is sexually
assaulted at college. Because this is unacceptable, I
created the White House Task Force to Protect Students
from Sexual Assault. And to achieve justice for more
survivors of sexual assault from every walk of life, my
new budget proposes funding to help process rape kits,
develop units to pursue cold cases, and support victims
throughout the process.

We also know that young men of color are most likely to
become victims of violent crime, and the odds are often
stacked against them in ways that require targeted
solutions. Earlier this year, I launched the My
Brother's Keeper initiative, a program focused on
helping boys and young men of color stay on track
through some of life's most critical moments. With
partners across the public and private sectors, we will
give more young Americans the support they need as they
face great obstacles, and we will work to decrease
their chances of becoming victims of crime.

This week, let us recommit to preventing crime and
strengthening rights and services for all victims.
Together, we can expand opportunity and build a safer,
more just world.

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 April 6 through April
12, 2014, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week. I
call upon all Americans to observe this week by
participating in events that raise awareness of
victims' rights and services, and by volunteering to
serve victims in their time of need.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
eighth.