[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 127, 113th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8952--MAR. 29, 2013

Proclamation 8952 of March 29, 2013

National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, 2013
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In the last 20 years, our Nation has made meaningful progress toward
addressing sexual assault. Where victims were once left without
recourse, laws have opened a path to safety and justice; where a culture




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of fear once kept violence hidden, survivors are more empowered to speak
out and get help. But even today, too many women, men, and children
suffer alone or in silence, burdened by shame or unsure anyone will
listen. This month, we recommit to changing that tragic reality by
stopping sexual assault before it starts and ensuring victims get the
support they need.
Sexual violence is an affront to human dignity and a crime no matter
where it occurs. While rape and sexual assault affect all communities,
those at the greatest risk are children, teens, and young women. Nearly
one in five women will be a victim of sexual assault during college. For
some groups, the rates of violence are even higher--Native American
women are more than twice as likely to experience sexual assault as the
general population. Moreover, we know rape and sexual assault are
consistently underreported, and that the physical and emotional trauma
they leave behind can last for years.
With Vice President Joe Biden's leadership, we have made preventing
sexual violence and supporting survivors a top priority. Earlier this
month, I was proud to sign the Violence Against Women Reauthorization
Act, which renews and strengthens the law that first made it possible
for our country to address sexual assault in a comprehensive way. The
Act preserves critical services like rape crisis centers, upholds
protections for immigrant victims, gives State and tribal law
enforcement better tools to investigate cases of rape, and breaks down
barriers that keep lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender victims from
getting help. It also expands funding for sexual assault nurse examiner
programs and sexual assault response teams, helping States deliver
justice for survivors and hold offenders accountable.
Just as we keep fighting sexual assault in our neighborhoods, we must
also recommit to ending it in our military--because no one serving our
country should be at risk of assault by a fellow service member. Where
this crime does take place, it cannot be tolerated; victims must have
access to support, and offenders must face the consequences of their
actions. Members of our Armed Forces and their families can learn more
about the resources available to them at 1-877-995-5247 and
SafeHelpline.org.
All Americans can play a role in changing the culture that enables
sexual violence. Each of us can take action by lifting up survivors we
know and breaking the silence surrounding rape and sexual assault. To
get involved, visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/1is2many.
Together, our Nation is moving forward in the fight against sexual
assault. This month, let us keep working to prevent violence in every
corner of America, and let us rededicate ourselves to giving survivors
the bright future they deserve.
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 April 2013 as National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I urge all Americans 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 twenty-ninth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and


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of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.
BARACK OBAMA