    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 9181--SEPT. 30, 2014

    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

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    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.
    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.
    BARACK OBAMA