HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-18-2008-3cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 18, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 - G
SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT (S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Baker, 245-2130
PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month
in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: In the United States, one in six women and one in 33 men has experienced a
complete or attempted rape at some time in their life (U.S. Department of Justice 1998) and in
North Carolina, one in five women have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives
(N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). There are 5,915 sex offenders and
sexual predators registered as living in North Carolina (State Bureau of Investigation, 2002).
Sexual assault is the most costly crime to its victims considering factors such as medical cost,
lost earnings, pain, suffering and lost quality of life.
It is proposed that the Orange County Board of Commissioners proclaim April 2008 as "Sexual
Assault Awareness Month in Orange County" and to encourage all residents to speak out
against sexual assault and to support their local communities' efforts to provide services to
victims of these appalling crimes.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends ~ that the Board approve the
proclamation designating April as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Orange County" and
authorize the Chair to sign.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
"Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2008"
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center assisted 344 survivors of
sexual violence and their family members, friends and loved ones during 2007;
and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center works with the County's two
school systems and other groups to provide all students with age-appropriate
information about sexual assault prevention, reaching 9,911 children and youth
during the 2006 - 2007 school year; and
WHEREAS, the coordination of the Orange County Sexual Assault Response
Team (BART} is bringing together members of law enforcement, the medical
community, the legal system and other community advocates to improve services
for survivors of sexual assault who come forward; and
WHEREAS, 1 in 5 North Carolina women have been sexually assaulted at same
point in their lives {NC Department of Health and Human Services, 1999); and
WHEREAS, in the United States, rape is the most costly crime to its survivors,
totaling $127 billion a year considering factors such as medical cost, lost
earnings, pain, suffering and lost quality of life {U.S. Department of Justice,
1996}; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have
experienced a completed or attempted rape at same time in their life (US
Department of Justice, 1998}; and
WHEREAS, there are 5,915 sex offenders and sexual predators registered as
living in North Carolina {State Bureau of Investigation, 2002); and
WHEREAS, the blaming of the victim continues to be an enormous problem in
instances of rape and sexual assault; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, anon-profit, volunteer
agency which has been serving this community since 1974, is working with
others in the community to stop sexual violence and its impact through support,
education and advocacy;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners does hereby proclaim the month of April 2008 as "SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH" and encourages all residents to speak out
against sexual violence and to support their local communities' efforts to prevent
and respond to these appalling crimes.
This the 18th day of March 2008
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners