RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MAJORITY WHIP ROBINSON, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, COUNCILMEMBERS, PINEDA-ISAAC, DIAZ AND MERANTE:
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A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF YONKERS TO DECLARE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2024 AS "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE CITY OF YONKERS.
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WHEREAS, in the United States, an average of 20 people experience intimate partner physical violence every minute, which equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually; and
WHEREAS, 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 9 men experience domestic violence from their partners during their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, 1 in every 3 women and 1 in every 6 men experience sexual assault in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, 1 in 5 women are survivors of rape, and 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 18; and
WHEREAS, approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year; and
WHEREAS, when a family member is abused, it can have long- term damaging effects on the victim that also leave a mark on family, friends, and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, families are indispensable to a stable society, and they should be a place of support to instill responsibility and values in the next generation; and
WHEREAS, violence against women and children is a prevalent social ill due to the historical imbalance of power in gender and age; however, sexual and domestic violence are widespread and are devastating to society as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the problems of sexual and domestic violence are not confined to any group or groups of people, but crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal barriers, and are sustained by societal indifference; and
WHEREAS, the crimes of domestic and sexual violence violate an individual's privacy, dignity, security, and humanity due to the systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and economic control and/or abuse; and
WHEREAS, victims should have help to find the compassion, comfort, and healing they need, and abusers should be punished to the full extent of the law; and
WHEREAS, we encourage domestic and sexual violence victims and their families to seek assistance from appropriate victims' services organizations; and
WHEREAS, it is important to recognize the compassion and dedication of the individuals who provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and work to increase public understanding of this significant problem; and
WHEREAS, local programs, state coalitions, national organizations, and other agencies nationwide are committed to increasing public awareness of domestic and sexual violence and its prevalence, and to eliminating it through prevention and education; and
WHEREAS, important partnerships have been formed among criminal and juvenile justice agencies, healthcare providers, allied professionals, and victim services to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence and their families; and
WHEREAS, we dedicate ourselves to protecting vulnerable members of our community; and
WHEREAS, The City of Yonkers has a moral obligation to work to prevent domestic violence, address its brutal and destructive effects and make ending domestic violence a local priority; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Yonkers City Council herby proclaim the month of October 2024 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" throughout the City of Yonkers.