    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9717 of March 30, 2018

    National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, 2018

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    During National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we remain
    steadfast in our efforts to stop crimes of sexual violence, provide care
    for victims, enforce the law, prosecute offenders, and raise awareness
    about the many forms of sexual assault. We must continue our work to
    eliminate sexual assault from our society and promote safe
    relationships, homes, and communities.
    Sexual assault crimes remain tragically common in our society, and
    offenders too often evade accountability. These heinous crimes are
    committed indiscriminately: in intimate relationships, in public spaces,
    and in the workplace.
    We must respond to sexual assault by identifying and holding
    perpetrators accountable. Too often, however, the victims of assault
    remain silent. They may fear retribution from their offender, lack faith
    in the justice system, or have difficulty confronting the pain
    associated with the traumatic experience. My Administration is committed
    to raising awareness about sexual assault and to empowering victims to
    identify perpetrators so that they can be held accountable. We must make
    it as easy as possible for those who have suffered from sexual assault
    to alert the authorities and to speak about the experience with their
    family and friends.
    When victims seek help, responses must be carefully tailored to the
    context in which the sexual assault occurred and the unique needs of
    each victim. To better assist victims, the Department of Justice's
    Office on Violence Against Women has developed the Sexual Assault Victim
    Intervention Services Technical Assistance Center (SAVIS TAC). This new
    resource will help community officials and organizations appropriately
    respond to sexual assault by expanding their understanding of the type
    of support likely to be effective in each unique circumstance.
    Participants in the SAVIS TAC initiative will use available funds to
    provide intensive training and resources to service providers. With
    these resources, service providers, including rape crisis centers and
    other sexual assault and domestic violence organizations can build
    organizational and staff capacity for providing comprehensive sexual
    assault victim intervention services.
    Together, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves
    to doing our part to help stop sexual violence. We must not be afraid to
    talk about sexual assualt and sexual assult prevention with

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    our loved ones, in our communities, and with those who have experienced
    these tragedies. We must encourage victims to report sexual assault and
    law enforcement to hold offenders accountable, and we must support
    victims and survivors unremmittingly. Through a concerted effort to
    better educate ourselves, empower victims, and punish criminals, our
    Nation will move closer to ending the grief, fear, and suffering caused
    by sexual assult. The prevention of sexual violence is everyone's
    concern.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2018 as National
    Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I urge all Americans,
    families, law enforcement, healthcare providers, community and faith-
    based organizations, and private organizations to support survivors of
    sexual assault and work together to prevent these crimes in their
    communities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
    March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    second.
    DONALD J. TRUMP