Office of the County Commission
P R O C L A M A T I O N
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
APRIL 2018
WHEREAS, Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual trauma and abuse is widespread and impacts every person in this community; and
WHEREAS, rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment harm our community, and statistics show one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives and that two out of three sexual assaults are never reported to police; and
WHEREAS, child sexual abuse prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that one in six boys and one in four girls will experience a sexual assault before age 18; and
WHEREAS, young people experience heightened rates of sexual violence, and youth ages 12-17 were 2.5 times as likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault; and
WHEREAS, on campus, one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted during their time in college; and
WHEREAS, the theme of Douglas County’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month’s campaign is, “Your Voice Has Power.” Our words shape the world around us. Whether you speak out against locker room talk or help someone better understand these issues, your voice in powerful and necessary in this conversation.
WHEREAS, Individuals can embrace their voices to show their support for survivors, stand up to victim blaming, shut down rape jokes, correct harmful misconceptions, promote everyday consent, and practice healthy communication with kids.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County, Kansas, hereby proclaim the month April 2018 as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” in Douglas County, and join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual trauma and abuse. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and each day of the year is an opportunity to create change for the future.
ADOPTED this 4th day of April, 2018.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY, KANSAS
