2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 18
BY SENATORS MORRELL AND PETERSON AND REPRESENTATIVES ADAMS,
WESLEY BISHOP, GISCLAIR AND PATRICK WILLIAMS
A RESOLUTION
To designate the month of April 2015 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the state of
Louisiana and to draw attention to the need for preventive measures.
WHEREAS, the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that protection
from sexual exploitation is a social right of all individuals, that implementation of legal
safeguards to prevent sexual assault is essential to society, and that support provided to
victims is the responsibility of governments, law enforcement, and social services; and
WHEREAS, sexual assault occurs when an individual is threatened, coerced,
manipulated, or forced to engage in nonconsensual sexual activity; and
WHEREAS, a sexual offense is a profound violation of the body of the individual
that includes illicit touching, drug facilitated date rape, spouse abuse, child abuse, elder
abuse, stalking, and intimidation; and
WHEREAS, sexual assault is a serious crime that affects persons indiscriminate of
race, age, gender, or economic status; infractions often go unreported to law enforcement
authorities and without medical attention afforded to its victims; and
WHEREAS, grave statistics estimate that in the United States a rape occurs every
two minutes; only thirty-two percent of rape assaults, roughly one in three, are reported to
law enforcement, and of those reported cases, only two percent, or one in fifty rapists, are
successfully prosecuted and incarcerated; and
WHEREAS, public policy advocates that reduction of the social effects of sexual
assault risk requires focus upon multiple venues; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement authorities must thoroughly investigate the crime,
gather and examine physical evidence, and apprehend predators; however, due to limited
funding, rape evidence kits often go unprocessed and perpetrators continue to prey upon
victims; and
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WHEREAS, criminal justice systems are required to prosecute assault cases, render
appropriate punishment, effectively rehabilitate sex offenders, and monitor their
whereabouts through a lifelong sex offender registry; and
WHEREAS, mental health treatment, social services, and community outreach
programs provide the victims of sexual exploitation with support and recovery, and survivors
are empowered through advocacy, therapy, and self-autonomy; and
WHEREAS, the Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign engages lawmakers and
communities to join together in efforts of prevention, education, and intervention, and these
endeavors are paramount in the fulfillment of the social contract that promotes a healthy
environment and a culture of physical safety.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby designate the month of April 2015 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the
state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby recognize that sexual violence is an issue of public health, human rights, and social
justice that requires preventive efforts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
STAR, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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