Public Awareness

P r o c l a m a t i o n

 

Whereas, domestic violence affects all New Yorkers, and its damage is inflicted not only upon victims, but their children, families and communities; sadly, far too many people suffer abuse at the hands of their partner and these victims can be of any age, race, religion, or economic status; and

Whereas, New York State has taken decisive steps to develop and strengthen policies and laws to hold domestic violence offenders accountable while increasing measures that ensure the safety of victims and their children through our legal, law enforcement, human services, education and healthcare systems; and

 

Whereas, critical legislation was signed into law this year to provide greater protection for New York State’s victims by allowing those previously excluded individuals in intimate relationships to seek an order of protection from Family Courts; and

 

Whereas, New York State’s commitment to ending domestic violence is manifested in its unique executive-level state agency, the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV), which was created twenty-five years ago, and New York State government continues to lead the State by example, through ensuring that all State agencies and authorities have a domestic violence in the workplace policy to protect the 250,000 individuals who work for the State; and

 

Whereas, New York State recognizes the importance of a comprehensive community response – such as integrated domestic violence courts, local task forces and advisory councils, family justice centers, and coalitions; and

Whereas, New York remains dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding of domestic violence, and teen dating violence, through campaigns and expert materials that provide essential guidance to the community; and

 

Whereas, New York has had the benefit of a strong network of nonprofit service providers that served nearly 57,000 victims and children in 2007; thirty years of advocacy by the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence; a State-funded, locally-managed Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline; and the State also offers community-based services, children’s programs, civil legal services, and unemployment benefits after a domestic violence-related job loss; and

 

Whereas, New Yorkers join with all Americans in supporting victims of domestic violence and share the worthy goals of this month-long observance, and likewise, support the work of public and private entities that strive to provide the best coordinated response to domestic violence in communities across this State, therefore sending an unwavering message to abusers that domestic violence will not be tolerated in our State;

 

Now, Therefore, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim October 2008 as

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

in the Empire State.

 

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at

the Capitol in the City of Albany this twenty-fifth day

of September in the year two thousand eight.

 

Governor

[signature of David A. Paterson]

 

Secretary to the Governor
[signature of Charles O'Byrne]