[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 80371-80373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23000]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 80371]]


                Proclamation 10826 of September 30, 2024

                
National Domestic Violence Awareness and 
                Prevention Month, 2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Domestic violence affects millions of Americans across 
                our Nation with devastating consequences for survivors, 
                families, and entire communities. Everyone deserves to 
                live free from the fear of violence, especially in 
                their own home. During National Domestic Violence 
                Awareness and Prevention Month, we recommit to 
                extending support and resources to all survivors, 
                continuing to hold perpetrators accountable, and 
                ensuring that our society is truly safe for everyone.

                Just last month, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of 
                the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which I wrote 
                and championed as a United States Senator. It is one of 
                the pieces of legislation of which I am most proud. 
                VAWA established a coordinated, nationwide response to 
                gender-based violence, lifting social and legal burdens 
                off survivors and onto perpetrators, where they belong. 
                It directed critical funding toward increasing 
                resources for survivors, strengthened efforts to 
                prevent and prosecute sexual assault, and funded rape 
                crisis centers and shelters to support survivors. It 
                also created the Nation's first-ever National Domestic 
                Violence Hotline, which has provided millions of 
                Americans with lifesaving support, answering its seven 
                millionth contact this past year.

                My Administration recognizes that there is still more 
                work to do. Between 30 and 40 percent of Americans are 
                impacted by sexual abuse, physical violence, or 
                stalking--including online--by an intimate partner 
                throughout their lifetimes. Over the years, I have 
                spoken with countless brave survivors of domestic 
                violence, who have shared the devastating toll this 
                abuse takes on all aspects of their lives. Their 
                stories are also marked by a deep courage and 
                resilience. Above all, they have made clear that even 
                one case of domestic violence is too many and goes 
                against who we are as a Nation.

                In 2022, I signed into law the reauthorization of VAWA 
                that included its highest funding level to date, 
                expanding protections to ensure that they reach the 
                most vulnerable communities. These funds will continue 
                to strengthen the public health response for domestic 
                violence survivors and their children, expand access to 
                medical forensic examinations, and increase support for 
                culturally specific resources in marginalized 
                communities. Additionally, Tribal courts now have 
                jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators of sexual 
                assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and 
                assaults on Tribal lands. And we are making sure that 
                VAWA programs are implemented in rural communities 
                across the Nation.

                We all have a sacred duty to ensure that no one 
                experiences abuse. That is why my Administration is 
                taking important steps to prevent domestic violence and 
                protect survivors and their families. We released the 
                first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, 
                which laid out a Government-wide approach to prevent 
                and address all forms of gender-based violence, 
                including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, 
                and stalking. Knowing that domestic violence and gun 
                violence are deeply interconnected, my Administration 
                established the first-ever White House Office of Gun 
                Violence Prevention, which is overseen by the Vice 
                President, who has

[[Page 80372]]

                spent her career combatting crimes against women and 
                children. And I signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities 
                Act--the most significant gun safety law in decades--
                which is helping to keep guns out of the hands of 
                domestic abusers and felons. Last year, the Department 
                of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded 
                over $600 million in grants to address gender-based 
                violence, and through the American Rescue Plan, we have 
                directed an additional $1 billion in funding for rape 
                crisis centers, culturally specific community support 
                organizations, and other domestic violence and sexual 
                assault services.

                We are also taking action to combat the growing threat 
                of cybercrimes and online harassment. We are increasing 
                access to services and support for survivors of 
                technology-facilitated gender-based violence and 
                ensuring that law enforcement is better equipped to 
                prevent, enforce, and prosecute cybercrimes, including 
                technology abuse by an intimate partner. Furthermore, 
                the Vice President and I worked together to create a 
                Federal task force that helped launch the first 24/7 
                national helpline for survivors of image-based abuse. 
                We are also directing Federal agencies to address 
                sexual violence and sexual harassment in the workplace 
                and in schools, and I have spearheaded historic 
                military justice reforms to protect survivors of 
                domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of 
                gender-based violence in our military.

                I remain proud of the progress that has been made in 
                recent decades to combat domestic violence and violence 
                in all forms, but I know that there is more work to be 
                done to ensure that every American is safe. During 
                National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention 
                Month and every month, we must lend our unwavering 
                support to survivors and continue to call upon our 
                fellow Americans to treat everyone with dignity and 
                respect. If you or someone you know is in need of 
                support, immediate and confidential help is available 
                24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline by 
                visiting thehotline.org, calling 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-
                800-787-3224), or texting ``START'' to 88788.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 2024 
                as National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention 
                Month. I call upon our country to change the social 
                norms that tolerate domestic violence, provide 
                meaningful support to survivors, and express gratitude 
                to those working diligently on prevention and response 
                efforts. Together, we can transform the country and 
                build a Nation where all people live free from 
                violence.

[[Page 80373]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                ninth.
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[FR Doc. 2024-23000
Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
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