National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

WHEREAS, domestic violence is a serious crime that affects people of all races, ages, income levels, sexes and religious backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, the crime of domestic violence violates an individual’s privacy, dignity, security and humanity, due to the systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and economic control or abuse; and

WHEREAS, approximately 2.3 million people per year in the United States are raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend; and

WHEREAS, in the United States, more than three women are murdered everyday by their husbands or boyfriends, and approximately one million incidents of domestic violence are reported annually; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, there were 36 domestic violence homicides in Alabama, 27,470 domestic violence assaults and 1,918 aggravated assaults; and

WHEREAS, nearly 25 percent of 14 to 17 year-olds surveyed know at least one student who was a victim of dating violence, while 11 percent know multiple victims of dating violence; and 33 percent of teens have actually witnessed such an event; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence costs the nation billions of dollars annually in medical expenses, police, court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity; and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence strives to provide citizens with primary prevention techniques and programs exploring the underlying causes and risk factors of teen dating violence and domestic violence that will help Alabamians enjoy more responsible and healthy relationships from adolescence into adulthood:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim October 2011, as

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

in the State of the Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 18th day of October 2011.

 

                                                                                 ___Governor Robert Bentley