Proclamation
DECLARING OCTOBER 2022 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH WHEREAS October is annually recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, although progress has been made toward preventing and ending domestic violence and providing support to survivors and their families, important work remains to be done; and WHEREAS Project Sanctuary’s mission is to provide trauma informed, supportive services, by offering a 24-hour hotline to victims/survivors, responding to emergency calls, offering support, and empowering those impacted by domestic violence to chart their own journey for healing; and WHEREAS there is a need to provide education, awareness and understanding of domestic violence and its causes; and WHEREAS approximately 40% of California women experience physical intimate partner violence in their lifetimes; and WHEREAS domestic violence affects people of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, racial, ethnic, cultural, social, religious, and economic groups in the United States and here in California; and WHEREAS the marginalization of certain groups in society, including undocumented individuals, transgender individuals, and people living with disabilities, increases their vulnerability to domestic violence; and WHEREAS all communities deserve access to culturally responsive prevention programs and initiatives to improve overall community health and safety by challenging the societal norms that perpetuate violence; and WHEREAS there were 87 domestic violence related homicides in California in 2020, of which 70 of the fatalities were female and 17 were male, 7% of all homicides in 2020 were domestic violence related; and WHEREAS approximately 4 out of every 10 non-Hispanic Black women, 4 out of every 10 American Indian or Alaska Native women, and 1 in 2 multiracial non-Hispanic women have been the victim of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. These rates are 30%-50% higher than those experienced by Hispanic, White non-Hispanic women and Asian or Pacific non-Hispanic women; and WHEREAS domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families in the United States; and WHEREAS domestic violence has a significant economic impact on women, throughout the country, an estimated 8 million days of paid work is lost as the result of domestic violence. Domestic violence costs $8.3 billion in expenses annually: a combination of higher medical costs ($5.8 billion) and lost productivity ($2.5 billion); NOW THEREFORE, I, Bernie Norvell, Mayor of the City of Fort Bragg, on behalf of the entire City Council, join Project Sanctuary in the belief that all community members must be part of the solution to end sexual violence. Along with the United States Government and State of California, I do hereby proclaim October 2022 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” SIGNED this 11th day of October, 2022
BERNIE NORVELL, Mayor
ATTEST:
June Lemos, MMC, City Clerk
No. 16-2022