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

 
Proclamation 9510 of September 30, 2016

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The physical and emotional scars of domestic violence can cast a long
shadow. Too many individuals, regardless of age, ability, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, circumstance, or race, face the pain and
fear of domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness
Month, we shine a light on this violation of the basic human right to be
free from violence and abuse, pledge to ensure every victim of domestic
violence knows they are not alone, and foster supportive communities
that help survivors seek justice and enjoy full and healthy lives.
Over the past two decades, rates of domestic violence against females
have dropped by nearly three-quarters--but there is still much work to
do to build on the progress we have made. Nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7
men have suffered from domestic violence by an intimate partner. All
people deserve to feel safe with loved ones, and my Administration is
committed to eliminating this scourge and supporting survivors'
healing--and we must ensure that survivors and their families have
access to the resources, care, and support they need to do so.

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My Administration is dedicated to ensuring that all people feel safe in
all aspects of their lives, which is why I proposed significant funding
for responding to domestic violence in my most recent budget proposal.
We have also championed legislative action like the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act, and the Affordable Care Act--which ensures
that most health plans cover domestic violence screening and counseling
services at no additional cost. And the Violence Against Women Act,
which was reauthorized in 2013, has enhanced and expanded protections to
Native Americans, immigrants, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
individuals, and victims who reside in public housing.
This is progress we must continue to invest in and carry forward.
Earlier this year, I announced a series of commonsense steps my
Administration is taking to reduce gun violence, including work to renew
our domestic violence outreach efforts. Building on the work of our
Police Data Initiative, the White House is promoting smart approaches to
collecting data on domestic violence offenses that balance transparency
and accountability with victim safety and privacy. And victim safety
should also be a priority in the workplace--a truth that extends to the
Federal Government. That is why I directed all Federal agencies to adopt
domestic violence workplace policies and encouraged employers to do the
same.
Our agencies have taken many critical actions to advance this cause. For
example, the Department of Justice has invested millions of dollars in
new initiatives to prevent domestic violence homicides, urge law
enforcement agencies to identify and prevent gender bias when responding
to domestic violence and sexual assault, and expand services to
underserved victims. And the Department of Housing and Urban Development
recently issued guidance to prevent housing discrimination against
survivors of domestic violence.
Vice President Joe Biden's leadership has helped guide our progress and
worked to change our national culture--which too often tolerates and
condones domestic violence. We are challenging harmful stereotypes
associated with victims of domestic violence and striving to bring the
practice of victim-blaming to an end. We must continue to recognize
survivors who experience disproportionate rates of domestic violence,
and who have been placed at the margins for generations, including women
of color, Native Americans, individuals with disabilities, members of
the LGBT community, immigrants, and older adults. Along these lines, we
also joined with Canada and Mexico to create the North American Working
Group on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls, working together
to enhance responses to violent crimes against indigenous women and
girls in North America.
Our Nation's character is tested whenever this injustice is tolerated.
When anyone is targeted by someone they place their trust in, we
have a responsibility to speak up. We all have a role to play in build-
ing a bright and safe future for each other and for future genera-
tions. This month, we recommit to standing with survivors of domes-
tic violence and to doing our utmost to extend hope and healing to
all who need it. If you or someone you know needs assistance, I en-
courage you to reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline,
which recently engaged in its 4 millionth conversation with victims and
survivors of domestic violence, by calling 1-800-799-SAFE, or visiting
www.TheHotline.org.

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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 2016 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 sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.
BARACK OBAMA