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<br /> 1 In 1989, the U.S. Congress first passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as
<br /> 2 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and has adopted similar legislation each year
<br /> 3 thereafter. The goal has been to educate and make the public aware of domestic violence issues,
<br /> 4 support the victims of domestic violence, and to connect advocates across the nation who are
<br /> 5 working to end domestic violence.
<br /> 6
<br /> 7 The Board of Commissioners is asked to proclaim October 2025 as "Domestic Violence
<br /> 8 Awareness Month" in Orange County to support victims of domestic violence, to educate
<br /> 9 residents, and support those working to end domestic violence.
<br /> 10
<br /> 11 Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn:
<br /> 12
<br /> 13 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
<br /> 14 PROCLAMATION
<br /> 15
<br /> 16 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 2025
<br /> 17
<br /> 18 WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by someone to maintain power and
<br /> 19 control in an intimate or family relationship; and
<br /> 20
<br /> 21 WHEREAS, domestic violence encompasses not only physical abuse, but also emotional, verbal,
<br /> 22 financial, sexual, or digital abuse, isolation, and/or stalking; and
<br /> 23
<br /> 24 WHEREAS, domestic violence disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities,
<br /> 25 undocumented people, women, trans and gender non-conforming people, and disabled people;
<br /> 26 and
<br /> 27
<br /> 28 WHEREAS, racism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression
<br /> 29 and discrimination perpetuate domestic violence and make seeking safety and stability more
<br /> 30 difficult for marginalized survivors; and
<br /> 31
<br /> 32 WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average nearly 20
<br /> 33 people per minute are abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this
<br /> 34 equates to more than 10 million people; and
<br /> 35
<br /> 36 WHEREAS, in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic
<br /> 37 Violence, at least 94 individuals were murdered by a current or former intimate partner in 2024
<br /> 38 and at least 49 have been murdered so far in 2025; and
<br /> 39
<br /> 40 WHEREAS, Compass Center, the state-designated domestic violence service provider for
<br /> 41 Orange County, serves more than 1,600 survivors of domestic violence each year through its 24-
<br /> 42 hour domestic violence crisis and lethality assessment program lines, support groups, court and
<br /> 43 community advocacy, Latinx programs, career and financial counseling, and other services and
<br /> 44 engages thousands more in prevention education and outreach; and
<br /> 45
<br /> 46 WHEREAS, preventing domestic violence requires the collective awareness, care, and action of
<br /> 47 individuals, institutions, and systems to transform our communities through social norms, policies,
<br /> 48 and laws that reject violence and abuse and promote healthy relationships based on respect,
<br /> 49 trust, and equity;
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