HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-13-2004-6cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 13, 2004
Action Agenda
Item No. _~_~~_
SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Clerk's Office, ext. 2130, 2125, 2126, 2129
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 245-2130
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 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 2004 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in Orange County
and encourage all citizens to speak out against sexual assault and support their local
communities' efforts to provide services to victims of this heinous crime.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the
proclamation designating April as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and authorize the Chair to
sign.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April 2004
WHEREAS, 425 primary and secondary survivors of sexual violence sought
assistance from the Orange County Rape Crisis Center during 2003 (Orange
County Rape Crisis Center Annual Report); 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 victims
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 has experienced
a completed or attempted rape at sometime in their life (US Department of
.Justice 1998); and
WHEREAS, in a recent survey, 97% of parents surveyed by the Kaiser Family
Foundation wanted sex education to include what their teen should do if raped
(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation September 2000); 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 Orange County Rape Crisis Center, anon-profit, volunteer
agency which has been serving this community since 1974, is commemorating
30 years of working to stop sexual violence and its impact through support,
education and advocacy;
NOW THEREFORE do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby
proclaim the month of April 2004 as "SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH" in Orange County and encourage all citizens to speak out against
sexual assault and support their local communities' efforts to provide services to
victims of this heinous crime.
This the 13`h day of April 2004,
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners