SENATE RESOLUTION 24

(By Senators Weld, Rucker, Woelfel, Plymale, Hamilton, Deeds, Smith, and Stuart)

[Introduced February 3, 2023]

Designating February 6, 2023, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day in West Virginia.

Whereas, All people have a right to be safe in their home, school, workplace, college campus, and community; and

Whereas, On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. In one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men; and

Whereas, Approximately 26 percent of children under the age of 18 are exposed to domestic

violence in their lifetime; and

Whereas, Eighty-three percent of survivors of intimate partner violence reported that their abusive partners disrupted their ability to work; and

Whereas, The lifetime economic burden of intimate partner violence among US adults is $103,767 lifetime cost per female victim and $23,414 lifetime cost per male victim; and

Whereas, During the fiscal year 2020-2021, 11,683 individuals were served by one or more of the 14 licensed domestic violence programs in West Virginia, nine of which also provide rape crisis services; and

Whereas, Last year 14 licensed domestic violence programs provided 24/7 crisis intervention services in 55 counties including 56,491 shelter nights, 85,560 service hours, and 9,340 volunteer hours; and

Whereas, Domestic and sexual violence and child abuse can be deterred, prevented, and reduced through a large network of private, public, and nonprofit entities working together as coalitions providing social, legal, medical, educational, and protective services for victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence has been working for 40 years to provide safe space, quality services, and systemic change to give individuals, children, and families options for building lives free from violence; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate designates February 6, 2023, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day in West Virginia and commits itself to treating this problem with the seriousness that it deserves and working to achieve solutions that deter, prevent, and reduce domestic violence; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network.