HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-10-2006 - 6cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 10, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. _~_r~
SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krista Park, Orange County Rape Crisis
Center, (919) 643-0722
Donna Baker, 245-2130
PURPOSE: To consider proclaiming 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 lives (U,S, Department of Justice, 1998), 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 Rape Crisis Center has requested that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners proclaim April 2006 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in Orange County
and encourage all people to speak out against sexual assault and support their local
communities' efforts to provide services to victims of this appalling crime,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the
proclamation declaring April as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and authorize the Chair to
sign the proclamation.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
"Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation"
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center assisted 434 survivors of sexual violence
and their family members, friends and loved ones during the 2004 - 2005 fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center works with the county's two school
systems to provide all students with age-appropriate information about sexual assault
prevention, reaching 9,007 children and youth during the 2004 - 2005 school year; and
WHEREAS, the coordination of the Orange County Sexual Assault Response Team (BART) is
bringing together law enforcement, the medical community, the legal system and other
community advocates to improve services for survivors of sexual assault; and
WHEREAS, 1 in 5 North Carolina women have been sexually assaulted at some point in
their lives (NC Department of Nealth and Numan 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 b 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, persons with disabilities in North Carolina experience sexual assault at a rate 4
times higher than persons without disabilities (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System,
2000-2001); 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 Ii RESALVED that we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners,
do hereby proclaim the month of April 2006 as "SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH"
and encourage all Orange County residents to speak out against sexual violence and to
support their local communities' efforts to prevent and respond to these appalling
crimes.
This the 10~h day of April 2006
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners