Florida Senate - 2009                            (NP)    SR 2772
       
       
       
       By Senator Fasano
       
       
       
       
       11-04357-09                                           20092772__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing April 2009 as “Sexual Assault
    3         Awareness Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, sexual assault continues to be a major social
    6  crisis in our society, with one in nine women in Florida having
    7  been a victim of sexual violence, and
    8         WHEREAS, sexual assault affects many Floridians, as a
    9  victim of sexual assault or as a family member, friend,
   10  significant other, neighbor, or co-worker of a victim of sexual
   11  assault, and
   12         WHEREAS, sexual assault has a devastating effect on the
   13  lives of victims, affecting every aspect of a person’s life and
   14  increasing the risk for post-traumatic stress disorder,
   15  depression, suicide, homelessness, and substance abuse, and
   16         WHEREAS, volunteers and service providers in Florida’s 31
   17  certified rape crisis centers work to provide a continuum of
   18  care to sexual assault survivors through 24-hour hotlines,
   19  counseling, support groups, advocacy, medical care, and
   20  education, and
   21         WHEREAS, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence seeks
   22  to improve services for victims of sexual assault and to prevent
   23  future sexual assault through public awareness and services for
   24  victims, and
   25         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes the vital importance
   26  of designating a time devoted to increasing the general public’s
   27  awareness and support of agencies providing services to sexual
   28  assault victims, and envisions a future free from sexual
   29  violence in our communities, NOW, THEREFORE,
   30  
   31  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   32  
   33         That April 2009 is recognized as “Sexual Assault Awareness
   34  Month” in Florida.
   35         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   36  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the Florida
   37  Council Against Sexual Violence as a tangible token of the
   38  sentiments of the Florida Senate.