WHEREAS, violence against women, children and men continues to become more prevalent as a social problem in our society; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, domestic violence programs offered 150,447 safe nights of shelter to women, children and men; 24-hour intervention and referrals in response to 36,396 hotline calls; and 61,737 hours of counseling and advocacy to families; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, the Shelter for Help in Emergency offered 4,012 safe nights of shelter to women, children and men; 24-hour intervention and referrals in response to 694 hotline calls; and 1,913 hours of counseling and advocacy to families; and
WHEREAS, the problems of domestic violence are not confined to any group or groups of people but cross all economic, racial and societal barriers; and are supported by societal indifference; and
WHEREAS, the crime of domestic violence violates an individual’s privacy, dignity, security and humanity, due to systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and economic control and/or abuse, with the impact of this crime being wide-ranging; and
WHEREAS, in our quest to impose sanctions on those who break the law by perpetrating violence, we must also meet the needs of victims of domestic violence who often suffer grave financial, physical, psychological and financial losses; and
WHEREAS, it is victims of domestic violence themselves who have been in the forefront of efforts to bring peace and equality to the home; and
WHEREAS, the Shelter for Help in Emergency commemorates its 25th anniversary of providing unparalleled services to women, children and men who have been victimized by domestic violence;
NOW THEREFORE, in recognition of the important work being done the Shelter for Help in Emergency, I, Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Chairman on behalf of the Albemarle Board of County Supervisors, do hereby proclaim the month of
October, 2004 as
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
and urge all citizens to actively participate in the scheduled activities and programs sponsored by the Shelter for Help in Emergency to work toward the elimination of personal and institutional violence against women, children and men.
Signed and sealed this 6th day of October, 2004.