Presidential Documents

17069 

Federal Register 

Vol. 74, No. 69 

Monday, April 13, 2009 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8359 of April 8, 2009 

National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Sexual assault scars the lives of millions in the United States. To increase 

awareness about this issue, prevent future crimes, and aid victims, this 

month we mark National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 

Sexual assault is pervasive in the United States. Study after study has 

shown that this crime impacts people at all age levels and in every part 

of this Nation. One recent study found that 18 percent of women in this 

country have been raped in their lifetime. In addition, rates of sexual assault 

remain startlingly high for students from high school to college. A 2005 

survey of high school students found that 10.8 percent of girls and 4.2 

percent of boys from grades nine to twelve were forced to have sexual 

intercourse at some time in their lives. A study of college women found 

that 13.7 percent of undergraduate women had been victims of at least 

one completed sexual assault since entering college. Unlike victims of sexual 

assault in the larger community, students victimized by other students often 

face additional challenges in a ‘‘closed’’ campus environment. For example, 

a victim may continue to live in danger if the perpetrator resides in the 

same dormitory or attends the same classes. These statistics are all the 

more alarming given that, according to recent research, a majority of victims 

do not report their attacks to police. 

Victims of all ages suffer from both the physical and emotional consequences 

of the attack. Sexual assault can lead to long-term health problems including 

chronic pain, stomach problems, and sexually transmitted diseases. It can 

also cause severe emotional harm that may be even more painful than 

the assault itself and resulting physical injuries. The effects of sexual assault 

go well beyond the direct victim: sexual assault also has a profound impact 

on a victim’s family, friends, neighbors, and workplace. 

Victims need an array of services to heal from the trauma of sexual assault, 

including crisis intervention, 24-hour sexual assault hotlines, medical and 

criminal justice accompaniment, advocacy, and counseling. Victim service 

providers are essential to this effort and work tirelessly to help victims 

cope with the trauma of sexual assault and transition from ‘‘victim’’ to 

‘‘survivor.’’ 

Landmark legislation has helped fund these critical services. The Victims 

of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA, Public Law 98–473) established the Crime 

Victims Fund to fund services such as forensic sexual assault examinations 

and compensation claims for both adult and child victims. For example, 

since 1997, VOCA funding has supported the development of Sexual Assault 

Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs and multi-disciplinary Sexual Assault 

Response Teams (SART). The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA, 

Public Law 109–162) authorized the Sexual Assault Services Program, the 

first Federal funding dedicated exclusively to sexual assault services. The 

Program includes funding for culturally specific programs that serve victims 

who face unique cultural and linguistic barriers. 

In addition to helping victims, offenders must be held accountable for their 

crimes. Sexual assault forensic examinations and trained examiners can 

17070 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 69 / Monday, April 13, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

ensure that victims are treated with requisite sensitivity and that critical 

evidence is collected to facilitate a successful prosecution. To this end, 

VAWA mandates that all States that accept Federal grants to combat violence 

against women ensure that sexual assault victims receive forensic examinations free of charge, even if the victim chooses not to report the crime 

to the police. 

To make continued progress, my Administration supports efforts to help 

Americans better understand this issue. Working together, we can reduce 

the incidence of sexual assault and help all who have experienced this 

heinous 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 laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2009, as National 

Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to respond to sexual 

assault by creating policies at work and school, by engaging in discussions 

with family and friends, and by making the prevention of sexual assault 

a priority in their communities. 

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

of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. 

[FR Doc. E9–8571 

Filed 4–10–09; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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