SENATE RESOLUTION 32

(By Senators Weld, Woelfel, and Rucker)

[Introduced March 14, 2025]

Designating March 17, 2025, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, All people have a right to be safe in their home, school, workplace, college campus, and community; and

Whereas, On average, nearly 24 people per minute fall victim to physical violence, rape, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States.  Over the course of one year, this equates to more than 12 million Americans becoming the victims of these crimes; and

Whereas, Children exposed to violence in the home are 15 times more likely to be physically and/or sexually assaulted than the national average; and

Whereas, Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families in the United States; and

Whereas, Sixty-four percent of survivors of intimate partner violence reported that their abusive partners disrupted their ability to work; and

Whereas, During the fiscal year 2023-2024, over 13,000 West Virginians were served by one or more of the fourteen licensed domestic violence programs located in this state; and

Whereas, Last year fourteen licensed domestic violence programs provided 24/7 crisis intervention services in all 55 counties across the state, including 104,167 shelter nights, 171,681 units of services, and 1,583 community programs; and

Whereas, Cooperation between our policymakers and communities is necessary in order to transform the conditions that cause domestic violence and support survivor-centered solutions; and

Whereas, Domestic violence programs in West Virginia provide essential, lifesaving services for survivors, their children, and our communities; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence has been working for over 40 years to provide quality services and systemic changes that give individuals, children, and families the options they need for building lives free of violence and fear; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates March 17, 2025, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate commits itself to addressing this significant problem with the seriousness that it deserves, while working to achieve solutions that deter, prevent, and reduce domestic violence; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence for its contributions to the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Joyce Yebloskey at the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.