HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-12-2005-6aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 12, 2005
Action Agen a~
Item No. -
SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krista Park, Orange County Rape Crisis
Center, (919) 643-0722
County Manager's Office, ext. 2300
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill
Durham
Mebane
245-2130
968-4501
688-7331
336-227-2031
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
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 2005 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.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April 2005
WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center assisted 425 survivors of sexual
violence and their family members, friends and loved ones during the 2003 - 2004 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 8,102 children and youth during the 2003 - 2004 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 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; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has contributed $28,000 to the
Rape Crisis Center in this fiscal year to help further their support, education, and
advocacy efforts to stop sexual violence throughout the County
NOW THEREFORE do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby
proclaim the month of April 2005 as "SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH" and
encourage all people to speak out against sexual violence and to support their local
communities' efforts to prevent and respond to these appalling crimes.
This the 12~h day of April 2005
Moses Carey, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners