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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 04-03-2018 4-a - Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 3, 2018 Action Agenda Item No. 4-a SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations ATTACHMENT (S): Proclamation INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette Moore, 245-2317 Gentry Hodnett, Orange County Rape Crisis Center, 968-4647 PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation recognizing April 2018 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Orange County. BACKGROUND: The National Sexual Violence Resource Center defines sexual violence as “any type of unwanted sexual contact, including sexual assault and rape.” This can include anything from sexual harassment to non-consensual sharing of private intimate images to rape. Sexual violence impacts everyone. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime “2017 National Crime Victim’s Rights Week Resource Guide: Crime and Victimization Fact Sheet”: • 44% of women and 23% of men will experience sexual assault; • 19% of women and 2% of men will be raped; • 38% of heterosexual women who were raped were between the ages of 18 -24; • 28% of persons raped were between the ages of 11-17 when first raped; • 64% of multiracial women and 40% of multiracial men reported being sexually assaulted other than rape; • 75% of bisexual women are more likely to be sexual assaulted compared to 46% of same sex and 43% of heterosexual women; • In 2014, an estimated 20,300 military members reported being sexually assaulted 10,600 men and 9,600 women; • Sexual violence is 2.5 times more prevalent that the most commonly occurring diseases –including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS combined; • 1 in 5 female students experienced attempted or completed sexual assault while in college and 65% of those surveyed reported the incident to a friend, family member, or roommate and less than 10% reported it to police or school officials; • 4% of inmates in state and federal prison report experiencing sexual assault, the most common for being staff misconduct. A National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey in 2010 indicated that among females who had been raped 51.1% reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance. For males, more than half reported being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger. The economic burden of sexual violence is estimated at a lifetime cost of 1 $122,461 per victim, or $3.1 trillion for all rape victims. The costs include lost productivity, medical costs, criminal justice service activities, and victim property loss and damage. The Orange County Rape Crisis Center, a non-profit, volunteer agency which has been serving the community since 1974 is working with others in the community to stop sexual violence and its impact through support, education and advocacy. The Orange County Rape Crisis Center assisted over 675 survivors of sexual violence, their loved ones, and community professionals during 2017. The Orange County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 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. The Orange County Human Relations Commission with host a community forum: Making Sense of it All: Exploring the Complexities of Sexual Harassment Sunday, April 15, 2018 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Whitted Human Services Center Complex 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 The Board of Commissioners is asked to proclaim April 2017 as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” in Orange County, 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. The Board has approved similar resolutions in prior years. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the proclamation. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang activity, substance abuse and domestic violence. RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation designating April 2018 as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. 2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Proclamation “Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2018 Proclamation” WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center assisted over 675 survivors of sexual violence, their loved ones, and community professionals during 2017; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center works with the county’s two school systems and other groups to provide students with age-appropriate information about violence prevention, reaching over 17,000 youth and adults each year; and WHEREAS, the coordination of the Orange County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 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 American women have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010); 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 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of sexual or physical violence committed by an intimate partner (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010); and WHEREAS, there are more than 16,500 sex offenders registered as living in North Carolina (Department of Justice, 2015) WHEREAS, victim-blaming continues to be an enormous problem in instances of rape and sexual assault; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, a nonprofit agency that has served this community since 1974, is working to stop sexual violence and its impact through support, education, and advocacy; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2018 as “SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH” and encourage all residents to speak out against sexual violence and to support their local community’s efforts to prevent and respond to these appalling crimes. This the 3rd day of April 2018. ___________________________________________ Mark Dorosin, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 3