SENATE RESOLUTION 11
(By Senators Weld, Woelfel, Ihlenfeld, Lindsay, Caputo, Beach, Hamilton, and Plymale)
[Introduced March 3, 2021]
Designating March 4, 2021, as Sexual Assault Awareness Day in West Virginia.
Whereas, All people have a right to be safe in their home, school, workplace, college campus, and community; and
Whereas, Sexual Assault Awareness Day draws attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and has implications for every community member; and
Whereas, One in six women and one in 22 men in West Virginia will be victims of an attempted or completed forcible rape; and
Whereas, Forcible rape is the top reason for incarceration in the state adult correctional facilities, costing the taxpayers over $42 million to incarcerate inmates for sex-related crimes in Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s adult prison facilities for a single year; and
Whereas, Sexual violence can be reduced and prevented; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services and the state’s rape crisis centers have been working for 39 years, individually and collaboratively, to provide quality services and systemic change to give West Virginia residents of all ages the opportunity to live in communities and homes free from violence and fear; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby designates March 4, 2021, as Sexual Assault Awareness Day in West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate is committed to treating this problem with the seriousness that it deserves and working to achieve solutions that deter, prevent, and reduce sexual violence; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Foundation for Rape and Information Services.