For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 8, 2003
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across our country, domestic violence traumatizes victims, endangers children, harms families, and threatens communities. According to the
most recent report from the Department of Justice, there were almost
700,000 incidents of domestic violence in 2001. Approximately
one-third of women who are murdered each year are killed by their
current or former husband or partner. Children who are subjected to
domestic violence too often grow up to inflict violence on others,
creating a cycle of violence that must be stopped. During National
Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we renew our Nation's commitment to
prevent and punish the perpetrators of this despicable crime and bring
hope and healing to those affected by it.
In some communities across our country, law enforcement, medical,
and legal services for domestic violence victims are fragmented,
requiring victims to travel to several different places to receive the
help and treatment they need. Comprehen-sive service centers for
domestic violence victims and their dependents enable health and
justice professionals to better serve those in need. My Administration
supports efforts to provide a wide variety of victim services in one
location, including medical care, counseling and social services, law
enforcement and legal resources, faith-based services, employment
assistance, and housing assistance.
Local nonprofit and faith-based programs and their volunteers also
offer critical assistance and support to victims in need -- help that
may not otherwise be available. In August of this year, the dedicated
advocates at the Federally supported National Domestic Violence Hotline
answered their one millionth call for help. Volunteers who want to
help victims in the local community can find more information at the
USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network (located at
www.usafreedomcorps.gov).
My Administration is fighting domestic violence and strengthening
services for victims and their dependents by supporting local and
private efforts and securing historic levels of funding for the
Violence Against Women programs at the Department of Justice. In
fiscal year 2002, we spent $390 million to prevent domestic violence
and help victims, which represented an approximately $100 million
increase in funding. Since then, we have continued to provide a
similar level of funding, and cities and towns across America are using
this money to strengthen their responses to the victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Federal commitment to
domestic violence has made it possible for women to seek relief from
abuse and reclaim their dignity and their lives. Moreover, Federal
prosecutions in cases involving violence against women increased by 35
percent in 2002.
Today is the first day of issue for the U.S. Postal Service Stop
Family Violence postage stamp, which will raise money to support the
national fight against domestic violence. On behalf of families and
communities across America, I call on all citizens to help raise public
awareness about how to prevent, recognize, and stop domestic violence.
I applaud the commitment of all those who are helping to improve the
lives of domestic violence survivors and their families. Working
together, we can continue to find better solutions to this national
problem.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 October 2003 as
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to
help victims of domestic violence and to work together to address this
tragic problem.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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