[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53271-53272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26798]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 192 / Monday, October 5, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 53271]]

                Proclamation 7129 of September 30, 1998

                
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Domestic violence is a leading cause of injury to 
                American women, and teenage girls between the ages of 
                16 and 19 experience one of the highest rates of such 
                violence. A woman is battered every 15 seconds in the 
                United States, and 30 percent of female murder victims 
                are killed by current or former partners. Equally 
                disturbing is the impact of domestic violence on 
                children. Witnessing such violence has a devastating 
                emotional effect on children, and between 50 and 70 
                percent of men who abuse their female partners abuse 
                their children as well. From inner cities to rural 
                communities, domestic violence affects individuals of 
                every age, culture, class, gender, race, and religion.

                Combatting the violence that threatens many of our 
                Nation's families is among my highest priorities as 
                President. Through the Violence Against Women Act 
                (VAWA), included in the historic Crime Bill I signed 
                into law, we have more than tripled funding for 
                programs that combat domestic violence and sexual 
                abuse--investing over half a billion dollars since 
                1994. The Violence Against Women Office at the 
                Department of Justice, which coordinates the Federal 
                Government's implementation of the Act, is leading a 
                comprehensive national effort to combine tough Federal 
                laws with assistance to State and local programs 
                designed to fight domestic violence and aid its 
                victims. With VAWA grants, communities across our 
                country have been able to hire more prosecutors and 
                improve domestic violence training among police 
                officers, prosecutors, and health and social service 
                professionals.

                My Administration has also worked to enact other 
                important legislation that sends the clear message that 
                family violence is a serious crime. The Interstate 
                Stalking Punishment and Prevention Act of 1996 stiffens 
                the penalties against perpetrators who pursue women 
                across State lines to stalk, threaten, or abuse them; 
                and an extension of the Brady Law prohibits anyone 
                convicted of a domestic violence offense from owning a 
                firearm. Since 1996, the 24-hour National Domestic 
                Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) we established has 
                provided immediate crisis intervention, counseling, and 
                referrals for those in need, responding to as many as 
                10,000 calls each month.

                In observing the month of October as National Domestic 
                Violence Awareness Month, we also recognize the 
                dedicated efforts of professionals and volunteers who 
                take up this cause every day, offering protection, 
                guidance, encouragement, and compassion to the 
                survivors of family violence. We reaffirm our pledge to 
                strengthen our collective national response to crimes 
                of domestic violence. Most important, we strengthen our 
                commitment to raise public awareness of the frequency 
                of domestic violence, recognize the signs of such 
                violence, and intervene before it escalates. If we are 
                ever to erase the pain of these heinous crimes, we must 
                help victims become survivors and, once and for all, 
                end the scourge of violence in America's homes.

[[Page 53272]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim October 1998 as National 
                Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call upon 
                government officials, law enforcement agencies, health 
                professionals, educators, community leaders, and the 
                American people to join together to end the domestic 
                violence that threatens so many of our people.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-eight, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-third.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 98-26798
Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P