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PROCLAMATION
<br />DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
<br />WHEREAS, If current trends continue, one in every four women and one in every 20 men will experience domestic
<br />violence during their lifetime; nearly 1,800 cases of domestic assault are reported to Boulder County law
<br />enforcement each year;
<br />WHEREAS, Children are present in more than 40% of these cases, putting them at increased risk for a broad range of
<br />short and long -term health and social problems, including depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior,
<br />educational and attention problems, developmental delays, substance abuse, suicide attempts, and
<br />involvement in violence as children and adults;
<br />WHEREAS, When a family member is abused, it can have long -term damaging effects on the victim that also leave a mark
<br />on family, friends, and the community at large;
<br />WHEREAS, Families are indispensable to a stable society, and they should be a place of support to instill responsibility
<br />and values in the next generation;
<br />WHEREAS Domestic violence is widespread, is perpetrated by both men and women and is devastating to society as a
<br />whole;
<br />WHEREAS, Domestic violence against women and children is a prevalent social ill due to the historical imbalance of power
<br />in gender and age;
<br />WHEREAS, Domestic violence against men is also a problem and a prevalent social ill because of the tendency to
<br />underreport and the victim's fear that they will not be taken seriously;
<br />WHEREAS, The problem of domestic violence crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal
<br />barriers, and is sustained by societal indifference;
<br />WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a crime that violates an individual's privacy, dignity, security, and humanity through the
<br />systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and economic control and /or abuse;
<br />WHEREAS, Victims should have help to find the compassion, comfort, and healing they need, and domestic abusers
<br />should be punished to the full extent of the law;
<br />WHEREAS, Victims of violence should have access to medical and legal services, counseling, transitional housing, and
<br />other supportive services so that they can escape the cycle of abuse;
<br />WHEREAS, We encourage domestic violence victims and their families to seek assistance from appropriate victims'
<br />services organizations including Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
<br />(www.safehousealliance.orq, or 303 - 444 - 2424);
<br />WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the strength, courage and resilience of survivors of domestic violence and for the
<br />entire community to support them as they work to build lives that are safe, stable and free from violence;
<br />NOW THEREFORE, in recognition of the important work done by domestic violence programs and victims' service providers, I,
<br />Mayor Robert P. Muckle, of the City of Louisville, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness
<br />Month and urge all citizens to actively participate in the scheduled activities and programs sponsored by Safehouse Progressive
<br />Alliance for Nonviolence throughout this month to work towards the elimination of intimate partner violence.
<br />DA jED this 21st day of O,ptober 2014
<br />Robert P. Muckle, Mayor
<br />N -ncy Varra, Cit Clerk
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