[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