PHOENIX — Former Governor Doug Ducey declared October Domestic Violence Awareness Month to raise awareness and identify opportunities to expand services and prevention efforts that support survivors and victims of domestic violence in communities statewide. As a symbol of unity and hope, the State Capitol dome will be lit purple starting October 4th through the month of October as part of the 7th Annual Lighting Arizona Purple campaign. The campaign provides an opportunity to support victims, connect families and communities with essential resources, and encourage Arizonans to #EndDVinAZ.
View text of the proclamation below
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WHEREAS, domestic violence is an issue affecting Arizonans in all communities, regardless of age, race, gender, economic status, religion, nationality, or educational background; and
WHEREAS, more than 12 million women and men are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States every year, averaging 24 people per minute; and
WHEREAS, one in four women and one in ten men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, 30 percent of children exposed to intimate partner violence had their first exposure before the age of two, and an additional 26 percent had their first exposure between the ages of two and seven; and
WHEREAS, witnessing violence in the home during childhood is an Adverse Childhood Experience, which without proper support may lead to a greater risk of negative lasting negative effects on health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, victims of domestic violence are more likely to experience long-term mental and physical health concerns including a higher risk of chronic disease, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and risky behaviors; and
WHEREAS, promoting healthy, respectful and nonviolent relationships can help reduce the occurrence of intimate partner violence, support survivors, and lessen short and long-term harm on individuals, families, and communities; and
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to enhance education, prevention and intervention efforts around domestic violence and support organizations and individuals who provide advocacy efforts, services, and assistance to victims.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim October 2021 as
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
and call upon all citizens, parents, governmental agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, hospitals, schools and colleges in the State of Arizona to support domestic violence survivors and take a stand against all forms of violence and abuse in relationships by joining the #LightingAZPurple campaign by visiting ItCanStop.AZ.gov, and expanding efforts to #EndDVinAZ.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be
affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona
GOVERNOR
DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this Twenty-Fourth day of September in
the year Two Thousand and Twenty-One, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the Two Hundred and Forty-Sixth.
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE