CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
PROCLAMATION
Proclamation Recognizing April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month Whereas, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is intended to draw attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and has a profound and lasting impact on every community member of Sonoma County; and Whereas, Verity, Sonoma County’s Rape Crisis, Trauma, and Healing Center, worked with over 1,200 survivors in Sonoma County in 2022; and
Whereas, national research indicates that one in five women will be raped at some point in their lifetime, and nearly half of all women will experience some form of sexual violence; and Whereas, one in seventeen men will be raped at some point in their lifetime, and one in five men will experience some form of sexual violence; and
Whereas, young people are at greatest risk of sexual violence, and youth aged 12 to 17 are two and a half times more likely to be raped, sexually assaulted, or sexually abused than their adult counterparts; and Whereas, disabled people, people of color, queer people, homeless people, transgender people, undocumented people, youth in foster care, and people of other marginalized identities are even more likely to be victimized by sexual violence; and
Whereas, over 18,000 members of the military and over 80,000 people who are incarcerated experience sexual violence every year; and
Whereas, with leadership, dedication, and encouragement, there is evidence that we can be successful in preventing sexual violence in the City of Sebastopol through increased education, awareness, and community involvement; and
Whereas, the City of Sebastopol strongly supports the efforts of Verity, and encourages every resident to actively engage in public and private efforts to end sexual violence, including conversations about what sexual violence is, how to prevent it, how to help survivors of all backgrounds connect with crucial counseling and other support services, and how every segment of our society can work together to better address sexual violence.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT I, Mayor Neysa Hinton, on behalf of the City of Sebastopol City Council, reaffirms our commitment to address the issues of rape and sexual violence by: remembering victims, believing and supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, and challenging societal myths and behaviors that perpetuate sexual violence in our community; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, along with the United States Government and State of California, the City of Sebastopol designates the month of April 2023 to be SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand on the Great Seal of the City of Sebastopol this 4th day of April, 2023.