[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 1125-1126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00204]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 78 , No. 4 / Monday, January 7, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 1125]]


                Proclamation 8925 of December 31, 2012

                
National Stalking Awareness Month, 2013

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Each year, millions of Americans face the fear, 
                isolation, and danger of being victims of stalking. At 
                some point in their lives, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men 
                will be stalked, and many of these crimes will go 
                unreported and unprosecuted. During National Stalking 
                Awareness Month, we rededicate ourselves to supporting 
                victims of stalking and sharpen our resolve to bring 
                perpetrators to justice.

                Stalking is a pattern of unwanted contact that causes 
                victims to fear for their safety or the safety of 
                family members. It can include implied or explicit 
                threats; harassment; or nonconsensual communication 
                through phone calls, text messages, or emails. The 
                perpetrator is usually someone the victim knows. 
                Stalking behaviors may appear innocuous to outside 
                observers, but victims often endure intense physical 
                and emotional distress that affects every aspect of 
                their lives. Many feel forced to move, or change jobs. 
                Tragically, stalking tends to escalate over time, and 
                it is sometimes followed by sexual assault or homicide.

                My Administration remains committed to building a 
                robust criminal justice response to stalking--one that 
                holds offenders accountable, offers protection and 
                support to all victims of violence, and empowers them 
                to break the cycle of abuse. In January 2012, we held 
                the first-ever White House stalking roundtable with 
                survivors, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, 
                and researchers. We have built partnerships with 
                communities across the Nation to implement anti-
                stalking efforts. And we continue to support nonprofit 
                organizations and local, State, and tribal governments 
                as they develop more effective responses to violence 
                against women--including direct services, crisis 
                intervention, transitional housing, legal assistance to 
                victims, court improvement, and training for law 
                enforcement and courts.

                We are also working to address the threat of 
                cyberstalking. While advances in technology are making 
                this crime more prevalent, they can also pose unique 
                opportunities to address it. Communities are developing 
                new tools that help connect victims to local services, 
                and State governments are updating statutes to further 
                protect people from cyberstalking. Through our Apps 
                Against Abuse challenge, my Administration recognized 
                mobile applications that are empowering people to 
                defend themselves against dating violence, sexual 
                assault, and stalking.

                Thanks to the dedicated work of law enforcement 
                officials, community leaders, advocates, organizations, 
                and survivors, our country has made great strides in 
                combating stalking. During National Stalking Awareness 
                Month, we resolve to keep building on this momentum 
                until no American lives in fear of this crime.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim January 2013 as 
                National Stalking Awareness Month. I call upon all 
                Americans to recognize the signs of stalking, 
                acknowledge stalking as a serious crime, and urge those 
                impacted not to be afraid to speak out or ask for help. 
                Let us also

[[Page 1126]]

                resolve to support victims and survivors, and to create 
                communities that are secure and supportive for all 
                Americans.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                seventh.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2013-00204
Filed 1-4-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F3