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5 <br /> The Board approved a proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Domestic Violence <br /> Awareness Month in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: Domestic Violence is a pattern of behaviors used by someone to maintain <br /> power and control in an intimate or family relationship. <br /> In 1989, the U.S. Congress first passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as <br /> National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and has adopted similar legislation each year <br /> thereafter. The goal has been to educate and make the public aware of domestic violence <br /> issues, support the victims of domestic violence, and to connect advocates across the nation <br /> who are working to end domestic violence. <br /> The Board of Commissioners is asked to proclaim October 2025 as "Domestic Violence <br /> Awareness Month" in Orange County to support victims of domestic violence, to educate <br /> residents, and support those working to end domestic violence. <br /> Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 2O25 <br /> WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by someone to maintain power <br /> and control in an intimate or family relationship; and <br /> WHEREAS, domestic violence encompasses not only physical abuse, but also emotional, <br /> verbal, financial, sexual, or digital abuse, isolation, and/or stalking; and <br /> WHEREAS, domestic violence disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, <br /> undocumented people, women, trans and gender non-conforming people, and disabled people; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, racism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression <br /> and discrimination perpetuate domestic violence and make seeking safety and stability more <br /> difficult for marginalized survivors; and <br /> WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average nearly <br /> 20 people per minute are abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, <br /> this equates to more than 10 million people; and <br /> WHEREAS, in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic <br /> Violence, at least 94 individuals were murdered by a current or former intimate partner in 2024 <br /> and at least 49 have been murdered so far in 2025; and <br /> WHEREAS, Compass Center, the state-designated domestic violence service provider for <br /> Orange County, serves more than 1,600 survivors of domestic violence each year through its <br /> 24-hour domestic violence crisis and lethality assessment program lines, support groups, court <br /> and community advocacy, Latinx programs, career and financial counseling, and other services <br /> and engages thousands more in prevention education and outreach; and <br />