Req. No. 13390 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) HOUSE RESOLUTION 1016 By: Munson AS INTRODUCED A Resolution recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 30, 2025, as Denim Day; supporting Peace Over Violence and the YWCA. WHEREAS, April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Peace Over Violence organization has declared April 30, 2025, as Denim Day. Both events draw attention to the misconceptions and misinformation abo ut sexual violence, which remains a serious issue in our society; and WHEREAS, sexual harassment is part of a continuum of violence whose damaging effects are felt throughout our culture. Harmful attitudes about all forms of sexual violence allow these is sues to persist and allow victims and survivors to be revictimized; and WHEREAS, every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted and approximately one in four women is raped during their lifetime; and Req. No. 13390 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 WHEREAS, in Oklahoma, the rate of rape and attempted rape among females reported to law enforcement has been 35 -45% higher than the U.S. rate for the past decade; and WHEREAS, Oklahoma law enforcement reported 2,245 forcible and attempted rapes in 2020 - which represented 12.5% of all violent crimes, and reported rape cases have increased 21% over the past 3 years, and 34.2% overall since 2013; and WHEREAS, youth under 18 account for about 44% of all reported sexual assaults, at least 25% of women experience sexual harassment in the workplace and about 75% o f sexual harassment victims experience retaliation when they report it; and WHEREAS, sexual violence and its unfair and traumatizing effects are preventable with proper education on the matter and comprehensive prevention projects; and WHEREAS, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives strongly support the efforts of Peace Over Violence and the YWCA of Oklahoma City to educate persons in our state about the true impact of sexual harassment, abuse, assault and rape. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY T HE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE: THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives recognizes the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives designates April 30, 2025, as Denim Day and urges everyone to wear jeans on this day to Req. No. 13390 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 help communicate the message that there is no excuse and there is never an invitation to harass, abuse, assault or rape. 60-1-13390 TKR 03/25/25