Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 2188 By Senator Benacquisto 27-04239-11 20112188__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing April 2011 as “Sexual Assault 3 Awareness Month” in Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, sexual assault continues to be a major social 6 crisis in society, with one in nine women in this state a 7 survivor of sexual violence, and 8 WHEREAS, sexual assault continues to affect many 9 Floridians, either directly, as the survivor of sexual assault, 10 or indirectly, as a family member, friend, neighbor, or coworker 11 of a survivor, and 12 WHEREAS, men and boys can be victims of sexual violence as 13 children, teens, or adults and are often reluctant to report the 14 crime of sexual assault, and 15 WHEREAS, sexual assault has a devastating effect on 16 survivors, affecting every aspect of their lives, increasing the 17 risk of depression, suicide, homelessness, and substance abuse, 18 and often leading to posttraumatic stress disorder, and 19 WHEREAS, volunteers and service providers in 30 certified 20 rape crisis centers work to provide a continuum of quality care 21 to sexual assault survivors through 24-hour hotlines, 22 counseling, support groups, advocacy, medical care, and 23 education, and 24 WHEREAS, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence seeks 25 to improve services for survivors of sexual assault and to 26 prevent future sexual assault through public awareness and 27 victim services, and 28 WHEREAS, child sexual abuse survivor and educator Lauren 29 Book founded the organization Lauren’s Kids, Inc., which, in 30 conjunction with the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, 31 has organized “Walk In My Shoes,” a 1,000-mile walk from Key 32 West to Tallahassee, which symbolizes the long and painful road 33 to recovery for survivors of sexual assault, and 34 WHEREAS, “Walk In My Shoes” is promoting awareness, 35 guidance, and support for survivors, educating adults and 36 children about sexual assault, promoting the message that it is 37 acceptable for survivors to tell others about the abuse they 38 have experienced, and offering hope for healing for all 39 survivors of sexual assault, and 40 WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes the vital importance 41 of designating a time devoted to increasing public awareness and 42 support of agencies providing services to sexual assault 43 survivors, and envisions a future in which all communities are 44 free of sexual violence, NOW, THEREFORE, 45 46 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 47 48 That April 2011 is recognized as “Sexual Assault Awareness 49 Month” in Florida. 50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 51 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the Florida 52 Council Against Sexual Violence and Lauren’s Kids, Inc., as a 53 tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.