[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 179 (Thursday, September 17, 2009)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 47869-47870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22585]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 179 / Thursday, September 17, 2009 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 47869]]


                Proclamation 8416 of September 14, 2009

                
Fifteenth Anniversary of the Violence Against 
                Women Act

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Today, we commemorate a milestone in our Nation's 
                struggle to end violence against women. Authored by 
                then United States Senator Joe Biden and signed into 
                law in September 1994, the Violence Against Women Act 
                (VAWA) was the first law to create a comprehensive 
                response to this problem at the national level. This 
                landmark achievement has helped our Nation make great 
                strides towards addressing this global epidemic.

                VAWA sought to improve our criminal justice system's 
                response to violence against women and to increase 
                services available to victims. It directed all 50 
                States to recognize and enforce protection orders 
                issued by other jurisdictions, and it created new 
                Federal domestic violence crimes. The law also 
                authorized hundreds of millions of dollars to 
                communities and created a national domestic violence 
                hotline.

                This bipartisan accomplishment has ushered in a new era 
                of responsibility in the fight to end violence against 
                women. In the 15 years since VAWA became law, our 
                Nation's response to domestic violence, dating 
                violence, sexual assault, and stalking has 
                strengthened. Communities recognize the special needs 
                of victims and appreciate the benefits of collaboration 
                among professionals in the civil and criminal justice 
                system, victim advocates, and other service providers. 
                With the support of VAWA funds, dedicated units of law 
                enforcement officers and specialized prosecutors have 
                grown more numerous than ever before. Most importantly, 
                victims are more likely to have a place to turn for 
                help--for emergency shelter and crisis services, and 
                also for legal assistance, transitional housing, and 
                services for their children.

                Despite this great progress, our Nation's work remains 
                unfinished. More families and communities must 
                recognize that the safety of our children relates 
                directly to the safety of our mothers. Access to sexual 
                assault services, especially in rural America, must be 
                increased. American Indian and Alaska Native women 
                experience the highest rates of violence, and we must 
                make it a priority to address this urgent problem. We 
                must also work with diverse communities to make sure 
                the response to violence is relevant and culturally 
                appropriate. We must prevent the homicide of women and 
                girls who have suffered from domestic violence, dating 
                violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

                Far too many women in our communities and 
                neighborhoods, and across the world, continue to suffer 
                from violence. Inspired by the promise and achievement 
                of the Violence Against Women Act, our Nation stands 
                united in its determination to end these crimes and 
                help those in need.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 the Fifteenth Anniversary of 
                the Violence Against Women Act. I call upon men and 
                women of all ages, communities, organizations, and all 
                levels of government, to work in collaboration to end 
                violence against women.

[[Page 47870]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                fourth.
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                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. E9-22585
Filed 9-16-09; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W9-P