CC 2017-04-11_06b Proclamation_Sexual Assault Awareness MonthHONORAR.Y PROCLAMATJON
DECLARING APRIL 2017 AS
"SEXUAL ASSA ULT AWARENESS MONTH"
WHEREAS, Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is
widespread and impacts every person in Arroyo Grande; and , '
WHEREAS, rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment harm our community, and statistics show
that one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives; and
WHEREAS, child sexual abuse prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that one in six
boys and one in folµ' girls will experience a sexual assault before age 18, and youth ages 12 to 17 are
2.5 times as likely to be victims of sexUal violence; and
WHEREAS, the local student population is also at high-risk -nationally one_in five women and one
in 16 men are sexually assaulted during their time in college; and
WHEREAS, last year RISE received 1,146 crisis calls from members of our community and sent
advocates out 80 times to accompany sexual assault survivors at SART medical exams, law
enforcement interviews, etc.; and ·
WHEREAS, the number of RISE clients receiving counseling for sexual assault related issues
continues to increase every year, with a total of 2, 126 hours of counseling provided at low or no-cost
to community members across the County last year; and
WHEREAS, the theme of this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign is, "Engaging New
Voices." The campaign calls on new partners and community members to help expand sexual assault
prevention efforts and ensure the next generation fosters attitudes that promote healthy relationships,
equality, and respect; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arroyo Grande joins RISE and other advocates and communities across the
country in taking action to prevent sexual violence, and acknowledges that each day of the year is an
opportunity to create change for the future; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Jim Hill, Mayor of the City of Arroyo Grande, on
behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim April 2017 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month'' and
April 22nd as "Walk a Mile In Her Shoes Day". .
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
Seal of the City of Arroyo Grande to be affixed this 11th day of April 2017.
JIM HILL, MAYOR
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