Bill Text: NJ AJR139 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates first Monday in April of each year as "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [AJR139 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR139-Introduced.html
No. 139
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 25, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SERENA DIMASO
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Designates first Monday in April of each year as "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the first Monday in April of each year as "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Sexual assault can happen to any person regardless of age, race, religion, geography, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and
Whereas, Sexual assault is sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent; and
Whereas, A sexual assault occurs every 73 seconds in the United States, and one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual assault in their lifetime; and
Whereas, Females ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, and female college students ages 18-24 are three times more likely than women in general to experience a sexual assault; and
Whereas, Over 1.8 million survivors of sexual assault live in New Jersey, which is nearly 20 percent of the State's population; and
Whereas, An act of sexual assault can impact the daily life of a survivor, whether the assault happened recently or many years ago, as each survivor reacts to sexual assault differently; and
Whereas, Sexual assault survivors can face short and long-term physical health problems such as sexually transmitted infections and diseases, chronic pain, and headaches, and serious mental health problems like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression; and
Whereas, Survivors too often suffer in silence because the survivor often fears further injury, is unwilling to experience further humiliation, or lacks faith in the criminal justice system; and
Whereas, April of each year is recognized throughout the United States as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in order to raise public awareness about sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, and to educate communities on how to prevent sexual assault; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper that the Legislature designate the first Monday in April of each year as "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" to stand together with survivors of sexual assault as they continue to heal and move forward and to recognize their incredible strength, perseverance, and courage; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The first Monday in
April of each year is designated as "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" in New
Jersey to raise public awareness about sexual assault, to educate communities
on how to prevent sexual assault, and to stand together with the survivors of
sexual assault.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation each year calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the first Monday in April of each year as "Sexual Assault Survivors Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about sexual assault, to educate communities on how to prevent sexual assault, and to stand together with the survivors of sexual assault.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, religion, geography, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity. A sexual assault occurs every 73 seconds in the United States, and one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual assault in their lifetime.
Females ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, and female college students ages 18-24 are three times more likely than women in general to experience a sexual assault.
Over 1.8 million survivors of sexual assault live in New Jersey, which is nearly 20 percent of the State's population. An act of sexual assault can impact the daily life of a survivor whether it happened recently or many years ago, as each survivor reacts to sexual assault differently.
Sexual assault survivors can face short and long-term physical health problems such as sexually transmitted infections and diseases, chronic pain, and headaches, and serious mental health problems like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. April of each year is recognized throughout the United States as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in order to raise public awareness about sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, and to educate communities on how to prevent sexual assault.
