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WHEREAS, In Pittsburgh last year there were 2,280 hours of domestic violence hotline counseling, 6,232 nights in shelter care for 327 women and 5,785 nights in shelter care for 241 child victim/witnesses provided by the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh ; and,
WHEREAS, domestic violence is no respecter of persons and can prey on victims of all races, classes, religions, education levels, ethnicities or sexual orientations; and,
WHEREAS, too many victims suffer in silence daily as they experience domestic violence and, oftentimes, suffer the horrors of their children watching them as they are being abused increasing the risk that those children are more likely to become victims or abusers themselves continuing the cycle; and,
WHEREAS, warning signs of abusive relationships include, but are not limited to, victims with partners who: exhibit extreme jealousy or possessiveness; criticize or put them down; isolate them from friends and family; devalue women; destroy possessions when angry; display a “Jekyll and Hyde” personality; and have a history of witnessing domestic violence as a child; and,
WHEREAS, According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, homicide was the second leading cause of death on the job for women in 2000; more than 29,000 acts of rape or sexual assault are perpetrated against women at work each year; and, 44% of executives surveyed nationally report that domestic violence increases their health care costs; and,
WHEREAS, Everyone deserves to be safe and secure in their homes and victims should know that there are people in their community who understand the dynamics of abuse, who are non-judgmental, and who are available to listen and support them and we encourage all residents of our city to learn more about the issue of domestic violence every day, but especially this month, which we proclaim as Domestic Violence Awareness Month for the year 2009; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council ...
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