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 3rd through the month of October as part of the 8th 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, socio-economic status, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation; 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; 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, domestic violence accounts for 21 percent of all violent crimes; 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 (ACE), 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 short and long-term impacts, such as post traumatic stress disorder, injury, chronic illnesses, pain, poor physical health and mental health; and
WHEREAS, promoting healthy, respectful, 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 the 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 2022 as
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
and call upon all government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, hospitals, colleges, schools, parents, and citizens 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, 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 fourth day of August in
the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Two and of the Independence of the
United States of America the Two Hundred and Forty-Seventh.
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE