County Commissioners recognize Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Commissioners at their Thursday meeting declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in the county. The unanimously approved proclamation was accepted by Cheyenne Brickley, Juli Jaglowski and Hannah Scott from Roads to Peace.

It was announced that Friday is Wear Teal Day. Snap a picture of yourself sporting TEAL, post or send the picture to Roads to Peace Facebook/Instagram, and the organization will share to show support for survivors of sexual violence.

The proclamation:

A PROCLAMATION :  DESIGNATING APRIL 2023 AS SEXUAL ASSAULT    

                                  AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH

 WHEREAS, sexual assault is defined as “a non-consensual, uninformed or unwanted behavioral or physical act of a sexual nature that violates trust or exploits an imbalance of power or control.”

 WHEREAS, every 68 seconds someone in the United States is sexually assaulted; and

 WHEREAS, 81% of women and 43% of men have experienced some form of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault in their lifetime; and

 WHEREAS, approximately 1 in 6 women, 1 in 33 men, and 1 in 2 transgender people have experienced attempted or completed rape in their lifetime; and

 WHEREAS, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by the age of 18; and

 WHEREAS, 66% of sexual assault survivors are between the ages of 12-17, making Ages 12-34 at the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault; and

 WHEREAS, sexual violence places survivors at a significantly higher risk of experiencing long-term health issues, including an increased risk of suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, low self-esteem, PTSD, and other mental health disturbances, and;

 WHEREAS, more than 463,000 people age 12 and older are sexually assaulted or raped in the United States each year, and;

 WHEREAS, more than 2 in 3 sexual assaults go unreported to the police, and;

 WHEREAS, dedicated advocates and volunteers work to eliminate sexual violence and provide support to survivors, and;

 WHEREAS, Roads to Peace had provided sexual assault services to 93 survivors, including adults and children within the past year;

 NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that throughout the Commonwealth and within the County of Clinton, we will combine our resources and skills, and pledge to become part of the solution to end sexual violence; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, the Commissioners of Clinton County do hereby proclaim the month of April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in Clinton County.