Proclamation - Domestic ViolencWHEREAS,
home should be a place of warmth, unconditional love, tranquility, and
security, and for most of us, home and family can indeed be counted
among our greatest blessings. Tragically, for many Americans, these are
blessings that are tarnished by violence, fear, isolation, and pain; and
WHEREAS,
domestic violence is more than just the occasional family dispute..
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey Report, Intimate
Partner Violence, 876,340 people were victimized by domestic violence in
1998. Intimate violence is primarily a crime against women. Statistics in
2000 show that females account for 75 percent of the victims of intimate
murders and about 85% of the victims of non-lethal intimate violence; and
WHEREAS,
in Iowa, 84 Iowans have been killed by their intimate partners since January
1, 1995, 53 of these victims have been women, 9 have been men and 22
have been bystanders, which includes other family members and children;
and
WHEREAS,
women are not the only targets; men, young children and the elderly also
are counted among the victims, and sadly, emotional scars are often
permanent. The YWCA Domestic Violence Program provided services to
346 women, 2 men, and 140 children in 1999; and 369 women, 9 men and
176 children in 2000.
NOw THEREFORE, I, TERRANCE M. DUGGAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE,
IOWA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AWARENESS MONTH AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO OBSERVE THIS MONTH BY
BECOMING AWARE OF THE TRAGEDY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUPPORTING THOSE
WHO ARE WORKING TOWARD ITS END, AND PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY
EFFORTS, SUCH AS THE YWCA WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE OCTOBER 14-20, AND THE
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, LIGHTING THE WAY TO NONVIOLENCE ON OCTOBER 14, 2001 AT
THE JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand and cause the Great Seal of the City of
Dubuque, IA to be affixed this 1st day of
October, 200,1.
Terrance M. Duggan, MAYOR
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk