[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 447-448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00061]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 3 / Thursday, January 4, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 447]]


                Proclamation 10695 of December 29, 2023

                
National Stalking Awareness Month, 2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Stalking Awareness Month, we honor the 
                strength and resilience of the millions of people 
                across this country who have endured stalking. We 
                reaffirm our commitment to building a future where 
                everyone can live free from fear, threats, and abuse.

                Stalking at its core is an abuse of power. It affects 
                one in three women and one in six men in their 
                lifetimes. It can happen in person or online; it can be 
                committed by a stranger or someone you know. The fear 
                it sparks can be all-consuming, shattering one's sense 
                of security, safety, and certainty. It can threaten 
                loved ones and even force victims to uproot their lives 
                and move at a moment's notice. It is wrong.

                One of my proudest achievements in life was writing and 
                championing the landmark Violence Against Women Act 
                some 30 years ago in the United States Senate. It began 
                to change our culture, bringing these crimes out of the 
                shadows and getting survivors the services and support 
                they needed. Over the years, I worked with courageous 
                advocates to keep expanding protections and boosting 
                access to healing and justice. In 2022, I was proud to 
                sign a reauthorization of the law, increasing 
                investment in prosecution, prevention, and support for 
                survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and 
                stalking. The new law also creates a Federal civil 
                cause of action for the non-consensual distribution of 
                intimate images and expands the jurisdiction of Tribal 
                courts to prosecute non-Native American perpetrators of 
                stalking, sexual assault, child abuse, and sex 
                trafficking.

                At the same time, we are working to make sure our 
                response keeps pace with technology and protects all 
                Americans from online harassment and cybercrime. In 
                2022, I created the White House Task Force to Address 
                Online Harassment and Abuse to help stop technology-
                facilitated gender-based violence. It aims to find new 
                ways to boost accountability, support survivors, and 
                further research the threat. Survivors, parents, 
                educators, advocates, medical and legal professionals, 
                and others have shared their expertise with the task 
                force, which will help inform their work.

                This past May, I also released America's first-ever 
                National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which 
                tackles the issue on seven fronts--prevention, healing, 
                housing, online safety, the justice system, crisis 
                response, and data. Since the beginning of my 
                Administration, the Department of Justice's Office on 
                Violence Against Women has provided grants to law 
                enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and community 
                organizations to work together to stop stalking and 
                other gender-based crimes. The Department of Housing 
                and Urban Development has provided tens of thousands of 
                emergency housing vouchers to help stalking victims and 
                others find a safe place to rebuild their lives.

                Too often, stalking happens in the shadows, hidden from 
                the view of others. This month, we shine a harsh light 
                on these crimes to make clear that this kind of 
                harassment, threat, or unwanted aggressive attention 
                has no place in America. There is so much at stake. 
                Every American deserves to feel safe and protected, 
                have a little peace of mind, and live with dignity and 
                respect.

[[Page 448]]

                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 January 2024 
                as National Stalking Awareness Month. I call on all 
                Americans to speak out against stalking and to support 
                the efforts of advocates, courts, service providers, 
                and law enforcement to help those who are targeted and 
                send the message to perpetrators that these crimes will 
                not go unpunished.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of December, 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. 2024-00061
Filed 1-3-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P