Recognizing April 2019 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Celebrating the Extraordinary Efforts of WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence.

WHEREAS,

Since 2001, April has been observed as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month The awareness month is part of an annual campaign to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, 1,100 cases of rape were reported in 2017. The police made 383 arrests in relation to these reports of rape. However, just one third of sexual assault cases are reported to the police; and

WHEREAS, More than half of American women have experienced unwanted and inappropriate sexual advances from men. One out of every six American women has been a victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime; and

WHEREAS, On average, there are 321,500 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.

Every 98 seconds <https://www.rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem>someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted

; and

WHEREAS,

WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence (WOAR) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate all forms of sexual violence through specialized treatment services, comprehensive prevention education programs, and advocacy for the rights of victims of sexual assault

.

Founded in 1971, WOAR is Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center and one of the first in the nation; and

WHEREAS, WOAR serves individuals from across the City. In 2018 alone, over 3,000 adults received direct services, 439 children received direct services and 155 volunteers were trained to provide hotline support; and

WHEREAS,

Teal is the color chosen to represent and raise awareness for sexual assault survivors. WOAR is encouraging individuals across the City to wear something teal to show your support for victims of sexual violence and for those working to end violence in our homes, community, and nation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Monique Howard is the Executive Director of WOAR. Dr. Howard is an accomplished public health administrator with a 20-year history of protecting and improving the health of women, families and communities. Throughout her career, Dr. Howard has advocated on behalf of consumers and service providers and promoted systems change to increase access and quality of care. She is committed to providing programming and services that increase the health and well-being of women and their families. Dr. Howard’s life mission is to both address the public health needs of individuals who have experienced chronic illness and examine the intersection of public health and sexual violence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That we hereby

recognize April 2019 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and celebrate the extraordinary efforts of WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Monique Howard as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End