Res. No. 429
Resolution recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of New York.
By Council Members Gibson, Cumbo, Cohen, Arroyo, Chin, Constantinides, Eugene, Gentile, Johnson, King, Koo, Lander, Palma, Richards, Rose, Rodriguez, Vallone, Menchaca, Koslowitz, Crowley, Kallos, Cabrera, Barron, Miller, Levin, Van Bramer, Dickens and Ulrich
Whereas, Domestic violence (DV) is often described as a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by one intimate partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner; and
Whereas, Other terms for domestic violence include intimate partner violence (IPV), battering, relationship abuse, spousal abuse, or family violence; and
Whereas, Domestic violence affects families from all socioeconomic backgrounds regardless of age, race, ethnicity, education, marital status or sexual orientation; and
Whereas, Sanctuary for Families, a New York based service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence, points out that "domestic violence is intended to harm the physical and/or mental well-being of the victim and can be psychological, physical, economic or sexual in nature;" and
Whereas, According to the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics (BOJ), in 2003-12, domestic violence accounted for 21% of all violent crime; and
Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that on average, 20 people per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States; and
Whereas, According to the CDC, approximately 9% of high school students report being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the 12 months before surveyed; and
Whereas, Additionally, BOJ findings state that females (76%) experienced more domestic violence victimizations than males (24%); and
Whereas, Domestic violence service provider Safe Horizon's website states that women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence; and
Whereas, Furthermore, women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than men; and
Whereas, Nationally, the battering of women by husbands, ex-husbands and lovers is the largest cause of injury to women and 31% percent of all women murdered are killed by husbands, ex-husbands or lovers; and
Whereas, Each year, millions of children experience domestic violence and these children are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including depression, anxiety and violence among peers; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence (MOCDV), between 2001 and 2012, there were 864 domestic violence homicides in New York City; and
Whereas, MOCDV reports that there were 62 family related homicides in 2013; and
Whereas, Of these, 16 victims were killed in the Bronx, 26 victims were killed in Brooklyn, 5 victims were killed in Manhattan, 13 victims were killed in Queens and 2 victims were killed in Staten Island; and
Whereas, 74% of these cases had no known prior police contact and 86% of these cases had no current order of protection; and
Whereas, Statistics provided by the New York City Police Department and Safe Horizon show that police responded to 280,531 domestic violence incidents in 2013, an average of over 765 per day; and
Whereas, Domestic violence is an insidious crime that affects the health of individuals, families and entire communities; and
Whereas, According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, "domestic violence thrives when we are silent but if we take a stand and work together, we can end domestic violence;" and
Whereas, Whereas, Despite great gains in education and services provided, domestic violence continues to shatter the lives of many and New York City should make the effort to take a stand, raise awareness and work together to help eradicate it; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of New York.
LS 2790
9/30/14
JP