[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 60051-60052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23867]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 192 / Friday, October 3, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 60051]]


                Proclamation 9181 of September 30, 2014

                
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2014

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Domestic violence affects every American. It harms our 
                communities, weakens the foundation of our Nation, and 
                hurts those we love most. It is an affront to our basic 
                decency and humanity, and it must end. During National 
                Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we acknowledge the 
                progress made in reducing these shameful crimes, 
                embrace the basic human right to be free from violence 
                and abuse, and recognize that more work remains until 
                every individual is able to live free from fear.

                Last month, our Nation marked the 20th anniversary of 
                the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Before this 
                historic law, domestic violence was seen by many as a 
                lesser offense, and women in danger often had nowhere 
                to go. But VAWA marked a turning point, and it slowly 
                transformed the way people think about domestic abuse. 
                Today, as 1 out of every 10 teenagers are physically 
                hurt on purpose by someone they are dating, we seek to 
                once again profoundly change our culture and reject the 
                quiet tolerance of what is fundamentally unacceptable. 
                That is why Vice President Joe Biden launched the 
                1is2many initiative to engage educators, parents, and 
                students while raising awareness about dating violence 
                and the role we all have to play in stopping it. And it 
                is why the White House Task Force to Protect Students 
                from Sexual Assault and the newly launched ``It's On 
                Us'' campaign will address the intersection of sexual 
                assault and dating violence on college campuses.

                Since VAWA's passage, domestic violence has dropped by 
                almost two-thirds, but despite these strides, there is 
                more to do. Nearly two out of three Americans 15 years 
                of age or older know a victim of domestic violence or 
                sexual assault, and domestic violence homicides claim 
                the lives of three women every day. When women and 
                children are deprived of a loving home, legal 
                protections, or financial independence because they 
                fear for their safety, our Nation is denied its full 
                potential.

                My Administration is committed to reaching a future 
                free of domestic violence. We are building public-
                private partnerships to directly address domestic 
                violence in our neighborhoods and workplaces, and we 
                are helping communities use evidence-based screening 
                programs to prevent domestic violence homicides. At the 
                same time, the Federal Government is leading by 
                example, developing policies to ensure domestic 
                violence is addressed in the Federal workforce. New 
                protections under the Affordable Care Act provide more 
                women with access to free screenings and counseling for 
                domestic violence. And when I proudly reauthorized VAWA 
                last year, we expanded housing assistance; added 
                critical protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
                transgender Americans; and empowered tribal governments 
                to protect Native American women from domestic violence 
                in Indian Country. Our Nation's success can be judged 
                by how we treat women and girls, and we must all work 
                together to end domestic violence. As we honor the 
                advocates and victim service providers who offer 
                support during the darkest moments of someone's life, I 
                encourage survivors and their loved ones who are 
                seeking assistance to reach out by calling the National 
                Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visiting 
                www.TheHotline.org.

[[Page 60052]]

                This month, we recognize the survivors and victims of 
                abuse whose courage inspires us all. We recommit to 
                offering a helping hand to those most in need, and we 
                remind them that they are not alone.

                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 October 2014 as 
                National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call on 
                all Americans to speak out against domestic violence 
                and support local efforts to assist victims of these 
                crimes in finding the help and healing they need.

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

[FR Doc. 2014-23867
Filed 10-2-14; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F4