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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature designates "Start by Believing Day."
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 ▸ expresses support for victims of sexual assault;
14 ▸ expresses support for the Start by Believing campaign; and
15 ▸ designates the first Wednesday in April as "Start by Believing Day."
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
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19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
20 WHEREAS, the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice's 2007 study
21 "Rape in Utah" found that one in three Utah women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, a
22 rate that is higher than the national average for sexual assault crimes;
23 WHEREAS, the Utah Department of Public Safety reports that in 2012, there were 966
24 reports of rape or attempted rape, which is one rape every nine hours;
25 WHEREAS, research by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice in
26 2007 and a United States Senate subcommittee 2010 hearing on crime and drugs indicate that
27 many victims of sexual assault do not report the crime for fear of not being believed;
28 WHEREAS, national research has shown that false reports of sexual assault are rare
29 and no more common than false reports of other types of crime;
30 WHEREAS, sexual assault is a violent crime and has devastating safety and health
31 implications for every person in Utah, be they a victim, survivor, family member, loved one,
32 friend, neighbor, or co-worker of a victim;
33 WHEREAS, End Violence Against Women International has developed a public
34 awareness campaign entitled "Start by Believing" a message that, in part, confronts the reality
35 that many victims do not get the support they need when they do report a crime;
36 WHEREAS, local governments and private business organizations around the state are
37 adopting the Start by Believing campaign, and it is appropriate for Utah as a whole to support
38 this simple and important message of support for victims of sexual assault; and
39 WHEREAS, if victims of sexual assault are believed and supported, they will heal more
40 completely and more quickly, making Utah a better and healthier place:
41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
42 Governor concurring therein, expresses support for victims of sexual assault and the Start by
43 Believing campaign.
44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor designate the first
45 Wednesday in April as "Start by Believing Day."
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the state
47 legislatures of the other 49 states, members of Utah's congressional delegation, End Violence
48 Against Women International, Chief Jerald Monahan, the Utah Sexual Violence Council, and
49 the Utah Crime Victims Council.