Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 7, 2009 / Presidential Documents 51443 

Proclamation 8428 of October 1, 2009 

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of all ages, leaving a 

devastating impact on women, men, and children of every background and 

circumstance. A family’s home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and 

desperation when a woman is battered by her partner, a child witnesses 

the abuse of a loved one, or a senior is victimized by family members. 

Since the 1994 passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, 

championed by then Senator Joe Biden, our Nation has strengthened its 

response to this crime and increased services for victims. Still, far too 

many women and families in this country and around the world are affected 

by domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 

we recommit ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our communities, and our country. 

To effectively respond to domestic violence, we must provide assistance 

and support that meets the immediate needs of victims. Facing social isolation, victims can find it difficult to protect themselves and their children. 

They require safe shelter and housing, medical care, access to justice, culturally specific services, and economic opportunity. The Family Violence 

Prevention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisis intervention 

programs, and community education about domestic violence. 

In the best of economic times, victims worry about finding a job and housing, 

and providing for their children; these problems only intensify during periods 

of financial stress. That is why the American Recovery and Reinvestment 

Act provides $325 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 

and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). This funding will supplement the 

Federal VAWA and VOCA dollars that flow to communities every year, 

and enable States, local governments, tribes, and victim service providers 

to retain and hire personnel that can serve victims and hold offenders 

accountable. These funds will also bring relief to victims seeking a safe 

place to live for themselves and their children. 

Victims of violence often suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn, 

with little or no guidance and support. Sadly, this tragedy does not just 

affect adults. Even when children are not directly injured by violence, exposure to violence in the home can contribute to behavioral, social, and emotional problems. High school students who report having experienced physical violence in a dating relationship are more likely to use drugs and 

alcohol, are at greater risk of suicide, and may carry patterns of abuse 

into future relationships. Our efforts to address domestic violence must 

include these young victims. 

During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence. 

By providing young people with education about healthy relationships, and 

by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize that domestic 

violence can be prevented. We must build the capacity of our Nation’s 

victim service providers to reach and serve those in need. We urge community leaders to raise awareness and bring attention to this quiet crisis. 

And across America, we encourage victims and their families to call the 


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51444 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 7, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–SAFE. Together, we must 

ensure that, in America, no victim of domestic violence ever struggles alone. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2009, as 

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I ask all Americans to do 

their part to end domestic violence in this country by supporting their 

communities’ efforts to assist victims in finding the help and healing they 

need. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of 

October, 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. 

[FR Doc. E9–24289 

Filed 10–6–09; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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