[Filed with Secretary of State March 17, 2016.]
ACR 132, Atkins. V-Day.
This measure would proclaim February 14, 2016, as V-Day to encourage all Californians to become more aware about and prevent violence against women.
WHEREAS, The United Nations found that worldwide one out of every three women will face physical or sexual violence in her lifetime; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, the United States adopted the Violence Against Women Act; and
WHEREAS, Today, a woman is beaten every nine seconds in the United States; one out of every five women in college will be raped or experience an attempted rape; the third leading cause for homelessness is domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, The 2011 California Women’s Health Survey found that approximately 40 percent of women face violence from an intimate partner and that women 18 to 24 years of age are more likely to be victims of violence; and
WHEREAS, Violence against women continues to be a serious issue at home and around the world; and
WHEREAS, On February 14, 1998, Eve Ensler, the writer of the acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues, established the first V-Day to raise awareness about violence against women and girls; and today, V-Day is a worldwide activist movement; and
WHEREAS, On this day, groups around the world will perform The Vagina Monologues and the proceeds will go to local programs that support victims of violence and rape; and
WHEREAS, V-Day has raised more than $100 million, has taken place in 200 countries, and has benefited 13,000 community antiviolence programs, and its message has reached more than 1 billion people; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims February 14, 2016, as V-Day to encourage all Californians to become more aware about and prevent violence against women; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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