By:  Haywood                                           S.R. No. 295

 1-1                                       1

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in

 1-4     joining Cooke County Friends of the Family in promoting recognition

 1-5     of April, 1997, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, The movement against sexual violence began nearly

 1-7     30 years ago with the "speak outs," when victims of sexual violence

 1-8     first broke their silence; this year, during the month of April,

 1-9     sexual assault programs throughout the state will be intensifying

1-10     efforts to promote public understanding of sexual violence and of

1-11     victims of sexual violence; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Sexual assault programs will be working to

1-13     publicize their services, increase community support for their

1-14     projects, and increase awareness of the healing process for

1-15     survivors, especially children; and

1-16           WHEREAS, The theme for this year's Sexual Assault Awareness

1-17     Month is "Strong Voices Confront Sexual Violence"; sexual assault

1-18     programs will be emphasizing the need for citizen involvement in

1-19     efforts to reduce sexual assault through public education and

1-20     changing public attitudes; and

1-21           WHEREAS, A number of professionals and nonviolence

1-22     advocates have joined together to form the Texas Association

1-23     Against Sexual Assault in order to provide Texans with a central

 2-1     source of information on sexual assault; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, Thousands of volunteers across the state work

 2-3     daily to staff 24-hour hotlines, respond to emergency calls, and

 2-4     offer support and comfort during medical exams and criminal justice

 2-5     proceedings; educational programs are offered to churches, schools,

 2-6     and civic organizations, and professional training is provided to

 2-7     law enforcement and criminal justice personnel; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, The designation of April as Sexual Assault

 2-9     Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase community

2-10     awareness of crime victims' rights, sexual assault issues, the

2-11     tremendous difficulties faced by survivors of sexual assault,

2-12     and the high-quality sexual assault programs that are available

2-13     in our state; now, therefore, be it

2-14           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-15     75th Legislature, hereby commend the citizens of Texas who

2-16     participate in programs that provide support and assistance to

2-17     the victims of sexual assault and encourage all Texans to

2-18     recognize the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month;

2-19     and, be it further

2-20           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared

2-21     for the Cooke County Friends of the Family as an expression of

2-22     appreciation for its participation in Sexual Assault Awareness

2-23     Month. 

2-24                                  ______________________________________

2-25                                          President of the Senate

2-26                                       I hereby certify that the above

2-27                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-1                                  on March 10, 1997.

 3-2                                  ______________________________________

 3-3                                          Secretary of the Senate

 3-4                                  ______________________________________

 3-5                                           Member, Texas Senate