WHEREAS, The American Medical Association has stated that a “woman is raped every 46 seconds in the United States” and that sexual assault is a “silent epidemic”; and

WHEREAS, Women, children, and men are all victims of sexual assault and it is estimated that one in three women, one in four girls, one in six boys, and one in 11 men will be victims at least once in their lifetimes; and

WHEREAS, Women, children, and men suffer multiple types of sexual violence, including, but not limited to, stranger rape, date rape, spousal rape, gang rape, serial rape, trafficking and prostitution, pornography, ritual abuse, sexual harassment, incest, child sexual molestation, and stalking; and

WHEREAS, Women, children, and men should be free from sexual violence in their homes, in the streets, in their workplaces, and in their recreational activities; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that only one in nine women report sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, Rape and sexual assault affect women, children, and men of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, It is not uncommon for women to experience multiple forms of sexual violence in the course of their lifetimes; and

WHEREAS, Emotional and physical scars resulting from sexual violence are often severe and longlasting; and

WHEREAS, A coalition of rape crisis centers, known as the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, has emerged to directly confront this crisis with the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, churches, health care providers, and other helping professionals from California’s diverse communities; and

WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the compassion and dedication of the individuals involved in this effort, applaud their commitment, and increase public understanding of this significant problem; and

WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the strength, courage, and challenges of the victims and survivors of sexual assault and their family and friends as they struggle to cope with the reality of sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, It is important to recognize that not all victims of sexual assault survive, either at the time of the assault or later, due to the horrific long-term trauma that sexual assault often inflicts upon victims; and

WHEREAS, There are rape prevention and education efforts underway throughout California to challenge the societal myths and behaviors that perpetuate rape and to engage communities in a common goal of ending sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, There is a Sexual Assault Awareness Week in October; and

WHEREAS, That one week has now grown to a full month of recognition and activities promoted by the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault to increase awareness of sexual assault and to create solutions; now, therefore, be it