HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-15-2003-5bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 15, 2003
Action Age~a,
Item No. ~j
SUBJECT: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) 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 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 2003 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 County Commissioners
Proclamation
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April 2003
WHEREAS, 381 primary and secondary survivors of sexual violence sought
assistance from the Orange County Rape Crisis Center during 2002 (Orange
County Rape Crisis Center Annual Report); and
WHEREAS, one in five 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, one in six women and one in thirty-three men
has experienced a completed or attempted rape at some time in their lives (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);
NOW THEREFORE do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby
proclaim the month of April 2003 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 15th day of April, 2003.
Margaret Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners