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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY RECOGNIZES OCTOBER 2021 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, October is nationally known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and a time to uplift the experiences and resilience of survivors, as well as educate and support households experiencing this hardship; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of physical and psychological abuse, threats, intimidation, isolation, or economic coercion used by one person to exert power and control over another person in the context of a dating, familial, or household relationship; and
WHEREAS, intimate partner violence can happen to anyone at any point in a relationship, and affects people of all ages as well as all racial, ethnic, gender, economic, and religious backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, women are disproportionately victims of domestic violence, as 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men ages 18 and older will experience domestic violence at some point in their life; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 37.7% of women in Illinois and 25.9% of men in Illinois experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, a June 2020 report from The Network indicated that there were 2,458 domestic violence related incidents documented by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in 2019 alone; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline received 28,749 calls for help in 2020, a 16% increase from the previous year, including a staggering 936 text messages requesting assistance compared to just 37 messages the year before; and
WHEREAS, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, approximately 40% of Black women and 34.4% of Latina women will endure domestic violence at some point in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Black women experience intimate partner violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females, and about 2.5 times the rate of women of all other races, and Black women are also less likely than white women to use social services, support programs, or go to the hospital because of domestic violence, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Feminist Majority Foundation; and
WHEREAS, 63% of victimized Latinas experience multiple acts of victimization, Latinx victims are less likely to tell health care workers, and Latinx victims report seeking local shelters less than women from other ethnic/racial groups due to language barriers and fear of immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, noncitizen victims of domestic violence report heightened concerns with accessing law enforcement and services due to uncertainty arising from changing immigration policies and heightened immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, LGBTQ domestic violence victims face barriers unique to their status, such as lack of access to domestic violence shelters, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs; and
WHEREAS, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we acknowledge the progress made in this field and embrace the basic human right to be free from violence and abuse, and recognize that more work remains until every individual is able to live free from fear; and
WHEREAS, this month, we recognize the unique circumstances faced by survivors and individuals facing domestic violence due to the public health crisis of COVID-19 and the negative impact it has had on the delivery of social services and access to resources; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence hotlines across the United States receive approximately 21,000 calls a day, an average of close to 15 calls every minute; and
WHEREAS, victims of domestic violence who worked with advocates experienced less violence over time, reported higher quality of life and social support, and had less difficulty obtaining community resources over time, according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence; and
WHEREAS, anyone who is or knows someone who is experiencing domestic abuse of any kind is encouraged to call the Domestic Violence Hotline at (877)863-6338; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Women’s Commission has passionately advocated for women and girls since its inception in 1995 and their July 2021 report issued recommendations for better access to services for survivors of gender-based violence that resulted in hours of dialogue among Cook County Commissioners about increasing access to the court system for survivors of domestic abuse; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to increase resources for programs aimed at intervening in and preventing domestic violence in Cook County and throughout the United States; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners commends domestic violence victim advocates, victim service providers, crisis hotline staff and first responders for their compassionate support of survivors of domestic violence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County commits to continuing to raise awareness of domestic violence and the corresponding devastating effects of domestic violence on survivors, families, and communities, and to supporting and advancing evidence-based solutions to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims and their families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners officially recognizes October 2021 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and call on the Cook County community to reaffirm their commitment to speaking out against domestic violence, assist victims in finding the help and healing they need, and work collaboratively to ending domestic violence in all communities.
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