HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-27-2007-6aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 27, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. _~,~
SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
PUBLIC 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 thirty-three 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.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners would like to proclaim April 2007 as "Sexual
Assault Awareness Month in Orange County", to encourage all citizens 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 proclaim April as
"Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Orange County" and approve the proclamation and
.authorize the Chair to sign.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
"Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2007 Proclamation"
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center assisted 374 survivors of sexual violence
and their family members, friends and loved ones during 2006; 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 8,862 children and youth during the 2005 - 2006
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 some 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 some 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
Carolind (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 2007 as "SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH." The
Board encourages all citizens to speak out against sexual violence and to support their
local communities' efforts to prevent and respond to these appalling crimes.
This the 27th day of March 2007
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners