[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 68433-68434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22239]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 4, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 68433]]


                Proclamation 10638 of September 29, 2023

                
National Domestic Violence Awareness and 
                Prevention Month, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Domestic violence touches every community in this 
                Nation. Americans of every race, religion, and 
                background are affected; its consequences transcend 
                generations, impacting children and reshaping whole 
                families. During National Domestic Violence Awareness 
                and Prevention Month, we stand with the tens of 
                millions of people who have experienced intimate 
                partner violence, and we thank the first responders, 
                service providers, and community members who work to 
                make sure that every American can live in safety, with 
                dignity and respect.

                I was always taught there is no worse sin than the 
                abuse of power, especially when that abuse is directed 
                toward a partner. But just decades ago, much of our 
                Nation wanted to keep the issue of domestic violence in 
                the shadows. Survivors sat in shame, and society often 
                looked away from what people too often dismissed as a 
                ``family affair.''

                I have spent more than 30 years of my life working to 
                change that--to end gender-based violence in the United 
                States and around the world. I wrote the original 
                Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1990, which made 
                strides toward shifting the legal and social burdens 
                away from survivors, holding offenders accountable, and 
                addressing gendered violence as a shared priority with 
                a determined and coordinated response. That law 
                introduced our Nation to countless brave survivors, 
                whose stories changed the way America saw this issue. 
                It created the National Domestic Violence Hotline to 
                provide confidential support nationwide. It supported 
                shelters, rape crisis centers, housing, and legal 
                assistance, creating life-saving options for survivors 
                and their children. And it helped to train police, 
                advocates, prosecutors, and judges to make our justice 
                system more responsive to survivors. It saved lives and 
                helped survivors rebuild.

                Since then, every time we have reauthorized VAWA, we 
                have improved it--broadening its scope to include 
                stalking and sexual assault in 2000, expanding access 
                to services for immigrants and communities of color in 
                2005, and recognizing criminal jurisdiction of Tribal 
                courts over non-Indian perpetrators and protections for 
                LGBTQI+ individuals in 2013. And last year, we 
                reauthorized VAWA again and strengthened access to 
                services for survivors from underserved and 
                marginalized communities, expanded special Tribal 
                criminal jurisdiction with support for Native 
                communities, and recognized the need to combat 
                cybercrimes and address online harassment and abuse. We 
                brought the Federal Government's investment in life-
                saving gender-based violence programs to $700 million 
                this year alone--the highest funding level in history--
                and to $1 billion in next year's budget.

                Last year, I also signed the most significant gun 
                safety law we have had in nearly 30 years, which keeps 
                firearms out of the hands of convicted domestic 
                abusers. Another law I signed ensures we continue to 
                sustain the Crime Victims Fund to help domestic 
                violence survivors cover abuse-related costs like 
                medical bills, lost wages, and temporary housing. And 
                further, I signed a law empowering survivors of 
                workplace sexual assault

[[Page 68434]]

                and sexual harassment to take their cases to court. We 
                fundamentally transformed how the military prosecutes 
                sexual assault and domestic violence within its ranks, 
                shifting to specialized prosecutors independent from 
                commanders. We have established a civil cause of action 
                for anyone who has had their intimate photos shared 
                without their consent, and we are working to prevent 
                the spread of deepfake non-consensual images too. And 
                last May, we released the first-ever National Plan to 
                End Gender-Based Violence, laying out a Government-wide 
                plan to prevent and address sexual violence, intimate 
                partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-
                based violence.

                Despite all this progress, we have more to do. Four in 
                10 American women and nearly 3 in 10 American men are 
                still impacted by sexual abuse, physical violence, or 
                stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their 
                lifetimes. If you or someone you know needs help today, 
                immediate and confidential support is available 24/7 
                through the National Domestic Violence Hotline by 
                visiting thehotline.org, call 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-
                800-787-3224), or text ``START'' to 88788.

                Every survivor should know that they are not alone and 
                they deserve better. Together, we will keep spreading 
                awareness, changing culture, supporting survivors, and 
                moving toward a world free of gender-based violence.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 2023 
                as National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention 
                Month. I call upon each of us to change the social 
                norms that permit domestic violence, provide meaningful 
                support to survivors, and express gratitude to those 
                working diligently on prevention and response efforts. 
                Together, we can transform the country and build a 
                Nation where all people live free from violence.

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

[FR Doc. 2023-22239
Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P