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WHEREAS, April is nationally designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to focus public attention on the epidemic of sexual violence in this country. Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) has provided quality services to victims of sexual violence for 32 years; and
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape provides a twenty-four hour response to individuals in a crisis; child and family therapy; adult counseling; crisis counseling; hospital, medical, and legal advocacy to victims and their families free of charge; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-four years ago, PAAR established a court precedent marking the first judicial recognition of the confidentiality of counselor/client communication; Pittsburgh Action Against Rape has worked tirelessly to bring sexual violence issues into mainstream consciousness and to advocate for victims in the justice system; and
WHEREAS, today, PAAR is one of the oldest, largest, and arguably one of the best rape crisis center in the country. It provides comprehensive, cost-free services to child and adult victims of sexual abuse throughout Allegheny County. These services include: crisis intervention, including a 24-hour hotline, medical and legal advocacy, and crisis counseling; group counseling and individual counseling; education/prevention programming for children and community groups; and clinical training for mental health professionals. For the last twelve years PAAR has consistently provided more hours of direct services than any other rape crisis center in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2006 PAAR held its signature fundraising event, The Muse Redressed. The event's theme is the healing of the creative spirit from severe wounds, the triumph of survival, the ability to contribute and inspire. The objective of this inaugural event is twofold. One is to raise unrestricted dollars for PAAR which will help PAAR to continue to provide hope and healing to survivors of sexual violence as they have for thirty-two years. The second objective of the event is to raise awareness of sexual violence
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh extends its thanks and appreciation to the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape for their individual and collective efforts to make their dream for "a country where no sexual violence victim goes un-served or ever feels that there is no path to justice" a reality.