[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 5, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 16715-16716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06948]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 64 / Wednesday, April 5, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 16715]]


                Proclamation 9585 of March 31, 2017

                
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention 
                Month, 2017

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                At the heart of our country is the emphatic belief that 
                every person has unique and infinite value. We dedicate 
                each April to raising awareness about sexual abuse and 
                recommitting ourselves to fighting it. Women, children, 
                and men have inherent dignity that should never be 
                violated.

                According to the Department of Justice, on average 
                there are more than 300,000 instances of rape or other 
                sexual assault that afflict our neighbors and loved 
                ones every year. Behind these painful statistics are 
                real people whose lives are profoundly affected, at 
                times shattered, and who are invariably in need of our 
                help, commitment, and protection.

                As we recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness and 
                Prevention Month, we are reminded that we all share the 
                responsibility to reduce and ultimately end sexual 
                violence. As a Nation, we must develop meaningful 
                strategies to eliminate these crimes, including 
                increasing awareness of the problem in our communities, 
                creating systems that protect vulnerable groups, and 
                sharing successful prevention strategies.

                My Administration, including the Department of Justice 
                and the Department of Health and Human Services, will 
                do everything in its power to protect women, children, 
                and men from sexual violence. This includes supporting 
                victims, preventing future abuse, and prosecuting 
                offenders to the full extent of the law. I have already 
                directed the Attorney General to create a task force on 
                crime reduction and public safety. This task force will 
                develop strategies to reduce crime and propose new 
                legislation to fill gaps in existing laws.

                Prevention means reducing the prevalence of sexual 
                violence on our streets, in our homes, and in our 
                schools and institutions. Recent research has 
                demonstrated the effectiveness of changing social norms 
                that accept or allow indifference to sexual violence. 
                This can be done by engaging young people to step in 
                and provide peer leadership against condoning violence, 
                and by mobilizing men and boys as allies in preventing 
                sexual and relationship violence. Our families, 
                schools, and communities must encourage respect for 
                women and children, who are the vast majority of 
                victims, and promote healthy personal relationships. We 
                must never give up the fight against the scourge of 
                child pornography and its pernicious effects on both 
                direct victims and the broader culture. We recommit 
                ourselves this month to establishing a culture of 
                respect and appreciation for the dignity of every human 
                being.

                There is tremendous work to be done. Together, we can 
                and must protect our loved ones, families, campuses, 
                and communities from the devastating and pervasive 
                effects of sexual assault. In the face of sexual 
                violence, we must commit to providing meaningful 
                support and services for victims and survivors in the 
                United States and around the world.

[[Page 16716]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 April 2017 as 
                National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. 
                I urge all Americans, families, law enforcement, health 
                care providers, community and faith-based 
                organizations, and private organizations to support 
                survivors of sexual assault and work together to 
                prevent these crimes in their communities.

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

[FR Doc. 2017-06948
Filed 4-4-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P