[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9387 of December 31, 2015

National Stalking Awareness Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Every person deserves to live freely and without the fear of being
followed or harassed. Stalking is a violation of our fundamental
freedoms, and it insults our most basic values as a Nation. Often
perpetrated by those we know--and sometimes by strangers--stalking is a
serious offense that occurs too frequently and goes unreported in too
many cases. During National Stalking Awareness Month, we stand with
victims of stalking, pledge to bring their stalkers to justice, and
rededicate our efforts to ridding our schools, workplaces, and
neighborhoods of this crime.
A repeated display of unwanted attention that instills fear, stalking
affects people from all walks of life and makes us all less safe. Seven
and a half million people are stalked in the United States each year,
and 1 in 6 women will experience it at some point in their lives. People
are stalked under a variety of circumstances and through a number of
mediums. Text messages, emails, and phone calls are some of the most
common means by which a stalker will harass someone, and offenders
usually, although not always, have a prior association with the victim.
Often offenders are or have been in an intimate relationship in which
they have abused the victim, and in many instances stalking is a part of
ongoing violence. Stalking is not only a tremendous breach of one's
privacy and liberty, but its purpose is to cause victims to feel scared
or anxious, terrorizing them and sometimes causing anxiety, insomnia,
social dysfunction, and depression. It also has the potential to cause
post-traumatic stress symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and being
constantly on guard. It is an affront to our basic humanity, and in some
cases it can lead to more violent acts by the offenders.
In 2013, I signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA)--a groundbreaking law that recognizes stalking as the crime it is
and provides more resources to victims. The Act also created new
protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender victims, as well
as for immigrants and Native American women. Earlier this year, I signed
an Executive Order that allows victims to use sick leave for absences
related to stalking and that protects victims' privacy

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in the workplace. In my 2016 budget, I proposed additional funding to
assist people being stalked who must make emergency moves to safer and
more stable housing. And to build on these efforts, my Administration
has implemented measures requiring institutions of higher education to
collect and report information on stalking and other crimes as outlined
in VAWA. Under the new regulations, these institutions are required to
make their disciplinary processes more transparent and to provide
ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns for students and employees--
because our classrooms should be safe havens where everyone can pursue
their dreams and fulfill their potential free from the fear of being
stalked or harassed.
As we embark on a new year, let us resolve to make it one in which every
person can safely and confidently make of their lives what they will. By
holding stalkers accountable and providing victims and survivors with
the support and assistance they need, we can ensure ours is a Nation
dedicated to promoting safety, common decency, and respect.
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 January 2016 as
National Stalking Awareness Month. I call upon all Americans to
recognize the signs of stalking, acknowledge stalking as a serious
crime, and urge those affected not to be afraid to speak out or ask for
help. Let us also resolve to support victims and survivors, and to
create communities that are secure and supportive for all Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
December, 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