[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9337 of September 30, 2015

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Domestic violence impacts women, men, and children of every age,
background, and belief. Nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United
States have suffered severe physical violence by an intimate partner.
Victims are deprived of their autonomy, liberty, and security, and face
tremendous threats to their health and safety. During National Domestic
Violence Awareness Month, we reaffirm our dedication to forging an
America where no one suffers the hurt and hardship that domestic
violence causes--and we recommit to doing everything in our power to
uphold the basic human right to be free from violence and abuse.
While physical marks may often be the most obvious signs of the harm
caused by domestic violence, the true extent of the pain goes much
deeper. Victims not only face abuse, but often find themselves left with
significant financial insecurity. And children who witness domestic
violence often experience lifelong trauma. These heinous acts go against
all we know to be humane and decent, and they insult our most funda

[[Page 3454]]

mental ideals. We all have a responsibility to try to end this grave
problem.
Prior to the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), many did
not view domestic violence as a serious offense, and victims often had
nowhere to turn for support. VAWA significantly transformed our Nation--
it enhanced the criminal justice response to violence against women and
expanded survivors' access to immediate assistance and long-term
resources to rebuild their lives. The Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act is another important piece of legislation that improved our
public health response to domestic violence and increased the
availability of critical services for victims.
My Administration has worked hard to build on the progress of the past
several decades and improve domestic violence prevention and response
efforts. We have extended protections and prevention measures to more
victims, including in Native American and immigrant communities, and
worked to break down barriers for more people seeking help. And the
reauthorization of VAWA I signed in 2013 prohibits--for the first time--
discrimination based on sexual orientation and identity when providing
services. Additionally, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most health
plans must now cover preventive services, including screening and
counseling for domestic violence, at no additional cost. My
Administration has also sought to secure greater workplace protections
by requiring Federal agencies to develop policies that address the
effects of domestic violence and to provide assistance to employees
experiencing it. And I recently signed an Executive Order to establish
paid sick leave for Federal contractors, which enables them to use it
for absences resulting from domestic violence.
Though we have made great progress in bringing awareness to and
providing protections against domestic violence, much work remains to be
done. In that spirit, Vice President Joe Biden launched our 1is2many
initiative, which aims to raise awareness of dating violence and reduce
sexual assault among students, teens, and young adults. And earlier this
year, we reaffirmed our Nation's commitment to addressing domestic
violence at all stages of life by holding the White House Conference on
Aging, which addressed elder abuse as a public health problem that
affects millions of older Americans. These initiatives will help advance
our efforts to ensure no person is robbed of the chance to live out
their greatest aspirations.
Safeguarding and opening doors of opportunity for every American will
remain a driving focus for our country--and we know that crimes like
domestic violence inhibit our Nation from reaching its fullest
potential. This month, let us once again pledge our unwavering support
to those in need and recognize the advocates, victim service providers,
and organizations who work tirelessly to extend hope and healing to
survivors and victims every day. I encourage all people in need of
assistance to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-
SAFE or visit www.TheHotline.org.
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 2015 as
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call on all Americans to
speak out against domestic violence and support local ef

[[Page 3455]]

forts 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 fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA