National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 2010

Proclamation 8492 of April 1, 2010

National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Every day, women, men, and children across America
suffer the pain and trauma of sexual assault. From
verbal harassment and intimidation to molestation and
rape, this crime occurs far too frequently, goes
unreported far too often, and leaves long-lasting
physical and emotional scars. During National Sexual
Assault Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves not only
to lifting the veil of secrecy and shame surrounding
sexual violence, but also to raising awareness,
expanding support for victims, and strengthening our
response.

Sexual violence is an affront to our national
conscience, one which we cannot ignore. It
disproportionately affects women--an estimated one in
six American women will experience an attempted or
completed rape at some point in her life. Too many men
and boys are also affected.

These facts are deeply troubling, and yet, sexual
violence affects Americans of all ages, backgrounds,
and circumstances. Alarming rates of sexual violence
occur among young women attending college, and
frequently, alcohol or drugs are used to incapacitate
the victim. Among people with disabilities, isolation
may lead to repeated assaults and an inability to seek
and locate help. Native American women are more than
twice as likely to be sexually assaulted compared with
the general population. As a Nation, we share the
responsibility for protecting each other from sexual
assault, supporting victims when it does occur, and
bringing perpetrators to justice.

We can lead this charge by confronting and changing
insensitive attitudes wherever they persist. Survivors
too often suffer in silence because they fear further
injury, are unwilling to experience further
humiliation, or lack faith in the criminal justice
system. This feeling of isolation, often compounded
with suicidal feelings, depression, and post-traumatic
stress disorder, only exacerbate victims' sense of
hopelessness. No one should face this trauma alone, and
as families, friends, and mentors, we can empower
victims to seek the assistance they need.

At the Federal, State, local, and tribal level, we must
work to provide necessary resources to victims of every
circumstance, including medical attention, mental
health services, relocation and housing assistance, and
advocacy during legal proceedings. Under Vice President
Biden's leadership, the 2005 reauthorization of the
Violence Against Women Act included the Sexual Assault
Services Program, the first-ever funding stream
dedicated solely to providing direct services to
victims of sexual assault. To further combat sexual
violence, my 2011 Budget doubles funding for this
program. Through the Justice Department and the Centers
for Disease Control, we are funding prevention and
awareness campaigns as well as grants for campus
services to address sexual assault on college campuses.
The Justice Department has also increased funding and
resources to combat violence against Native American
women.

As we continue to confront this crime, let us reaffirm
this month our dedication to take action in our
communities and stop abuse before it

starts. Together, we can increase awareness about
sexual violence, decrease its frequency, punish
offenders, help victims, and heal lives.

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 2010 as
National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I urge all
Americans to reach out to victims, learn more about
this crime, and speak out against it.

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