Florida Senate - 2021                            (NP)    SR 2040
       
       
        
       By Senator Cruz
       
       
       
       
       
       18-03372-21                                           20212040__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing April 2021 as “Sexual Assault
    3         Awareness Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, the recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
    6  calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread
    7  and impacts every community in Florida, and
    8         WHEREAS, the recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
    9  raises public awareness about sexual violence; provides
   10  opportunities to educate the public about the impacts of sexual
   11  assault not only on the person assaulted, but on his or her
   12  loved ones and society as a whole; and encourages a community
   13  response to sexual violence, and
   14         WHEREAS, in 2021, the focus of Sexual Assault Awareness
   15  Month in this state is “I AM,” which recognizes and honors the
   16  differences in victims’ and survivors’ backgrounds, healing
   17  processes, and outlets and the choices of affected individuals
   18  regarding how they want to present and identify themselves to
   19  the world, and
   20         WHEREAS, addressing sexual violence requires public
   21  engagement and action in calling out abuse, reinforcement of the
   22  anti-sexual violence movement and victim advocacy in the
   23  community, and support of survivors and the organizations that
   24  serve them, and
   25         WHEREAS, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is the
   26  statewide resource on best practices for responding to victims
   27  and survivors of sexual violence and certifies the 31 sexual
   28  assault programs in this state which provide confidential,
   29  trauma-focused services to survivors of sexual violence
   30  regardless of when the victimization occurred and whether the
   31  assault was reported to law enforcement, and
   32         WHEREAS, all Floridians have a part to play in protecting
   33  those who have been harmed by these traumatic assaults, NOW,
   34  THEREFORE,
   35  
   36  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   37  
   38         That April 2021 is recognized as “Sexual Assault Awareness
   39  Month” in Florida.