Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 4 / Monday, January 7, 2013 / Presidential Documents 1125 

Proclamation 8925 of December 31, 2012 

National Stalking Awareness Month, 2013 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Each year, millions of Americans face the fear, isolation, and danger of 

being victims of stalking. At some point in their lives, 1 in 6 women 

and 1 in 19 men will be stalked, and many of these crimes will go unreported 

and unprosecuted. During National Stalking Awareness Month, we rededicate 

ourselves to supporting victims of stalking and sharpen our resolve to bring 

perpetrators to justice. 

Stalking is a pattern of unwanted contact that causes victims to fear for 

their safety or the safety of family members. It can include implied or 

explicit threats; harassment; or nonconsensual communication through phone 

calls, text messages, or emails. The perpetrator is usually someone the victim 

knows. Stalking behaviors may appear innocuous to outside observers, but 

victims often endure intense physical and emotional distress that affects 

every aspect of their lives. Many feel forced to move, or change jobs. Tragically, stalking tends to escalate over time, and it is sometimes followed 

by sexual assault or homicide. 

My Administration remains committed to building a robust criminal justice 

response to stalking—one that holds offenders accountable, offers protection 

and support to all victims of violence, and empowers them to break the 

cycle of abuse. In January 2012, we held the first-ever White House stalking 

roundtable with survivors, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, and 

researchers. We have built partnerships with communities across the Nation 

to implement anti-stalking efforts. And we continue to support nonprofit 

organizations and local, State, and tribal governments as they develop more 

effective responses to violence against women—including direct services, 

crisis intervention, transitional housing, legal assistance to victims, court 

improvement, and training for law enforcement and courts. 

We are also working to address the threat of cyberstalking. While advances 

in technology are making this crime more prevalent, they can also pose 

unique opportunities to address it. Communities are developing new tools 

that help connect victims to local services, and State governments are updating statutes to further protect people from cyberstalking. Through our Apps 

Against Abuse challenge, my Administration recognized mobile applications 

that are empowering people to defend themselves against dating violence, 

sexual assault, and stalking. 

Thanks to the dedicated work of law enforcement officials, community leaders, advocates, organizations, and survivors, our country has made great 

strides in combating stalking. During National Stalking Awareness Month, 

we resolve to keep building on this momentum until no American lives 

in fear of this crime. 

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 January 2013 as 

National Stalking Awareness Month. I call upon all Americans to recognize 

the signs of stalking, acknowledge stalking as a serious crime, and urge 

those impacted not to be afraid to speak out or ask for help. Let us also 


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1126 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 4 / Monday, January 7, 2013 / Presidential Documents 

resolve to support victims and survivors, and to create communities that 

are secure and supportive for all Americans. 

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

of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtyseventh. 

[FR Doc. 2013–00204 

Filed 1–4–13; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F3 


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