Senate Resolution No. 4743

BY: Senator HANNON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 2018, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate
and increase awareness of issues that are of significance for the
citizens of this great Nation and Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2018, as Sexual
Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Sexual assault harms our communities, with statistics
showing that every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted; one in
six women and one in 71 men will survive a sexual assault in their
lifetimes; and

WHEREAS, On college campuses, one in five women and one in 16 men
are sexually assaulted during their time in college; and the Center for
Disease Control reports that a staggering 25 million Americans are rape
survivors; and

WHEREAS, Rape is the most under-reported crime in the nation; 63% of
sexual assaults are not reported to police; many people who are
traumatized by rape, experience the fear of reliving the assault during
the criminal investigation; and

WHEREAS, Research suggests that rape has a more severe impact on a
person than other types of trauma; 81% of women and 35% of men report
significant short- or long-term impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD); and

WHEREAS, More must be done to help lift the stigma and shame that
victims of sexual assault face, and raise awareness about treatment
options for PTSD and other mental health issues that often result from
the emotional trauma of sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, The 2018 Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign is
entitled "Embrace Your Voice"!; in February of this year, Abby Haglage,
a brave survivor from New York City, used her voice to publicly speak
out for the first time about her experience as a rape victim, thereby
helping others to embrace their voice; and

WHEREAS, We must work together to educate our communities about
sexual violence prevention, supporting survivors and speaking out
against harmful attitudes and actions which condone sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, When we actively get involved, we can decrease the
incidence of sexual violence by increasing education, awareness and
community involvement, and by supporting the victims of sexual assault;
now, therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2018, as Sexual
Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York, the Joyful Hearts Foundation, Rise, and the New York State
Coalition Against Sexual Assault.