A Resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Transcript (~7 min @ 3:38)

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▶ 3:31 Speaker 4: Second. Second by Councilor Carrum Shady. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Those, um, orders are now, um, moved out of order.

▶ 3:44 Speaker 5: Um, so first up under resolutions, let's take the first one, Madam Clerk, if you wanna read that one.

▶ 3:51 Speaker 2: Okay. Id number 1 2 5 7 6 A resolution,

▶ 3:56 Speaker 1: recognizing and supporting the goals in ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Sponsored by Ward five, counselor Kimberly Vandiver at, and then at large Councilor Maya Jamine.

▶ 4:10 Speaker 4: Thank you, Councilor Vandiver. Thank

▶ 4:11 Kimberly Vandiver: You. I'd like to seek immediate consideration for this.

▶ 4:15 Speaker 4: Okay. Seeing no objections, this order is in front of us.

▶ 4:17 Speaker 5: Councillor Van Devin is a maker of the order.

▶ 4:21 Speaker 4: You'd like to say a few words or

▶ 4:22 Kimberly Vandiver: Read the solution. Hi. Thank you, uh, Madam Chair and to my fellow council members for taking the time to hear this resolution today. Thank you to Councilor Jamine for her work and the improvement she made to the original draft of the resolution. Um, I'll, I'll keep my comments before the resolution brief and largely, um, let it stand on its own, but I just wanted to, I found it meaningful that I, I sought out input from several people and organizations, um, while drafting this resolution to get outside of my own perspective. And, um, what I found really surprising and shouldn't have is that multiple times while we were in the context of discussing the resolution, because I wanted feedback about it, I found out that somebody had themself been sexually assaulted. Um, and I know the statistics, I put them in the resolution one in four women, half of transgender and non-binary people. But, um, it does hit differently when you realize the, the, how common it is just out in the world as, as you're talking to people. So, um, I think that really underscores how this issue tends to be a little bit hidden, a little bit stigmatized, and why it's valuable for us as a council to put a focus on it and let people know that we do, um, support them and see them. Thank you.

▶ 5:35 Speaker 5: Do you wanna read a copy of the resolution?

▶ 5:37 Kimberly Vandiver: Um, I'd be happy to. Would, um, councilor Malvin as a co-sponsor, like to say anything first?

▶ 5:43 Maya Jamaleddine: Um, um, I just wanna thank you for the work, uh, that you did for, um, uh, on this resolution, and I do hope that this will be, um, a, um, great example and a start for many young, um, um, uh, individuals, uh, to work towards advocating, uh, to stopping sexual assault. Thank you. Thank you.

▶ 6:08 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, so I'll read through the resolution, um, a resolution, recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Um, whereas according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, one in four women and one in 26 men have experienced, completed, or attempted rape, whereas nearly half of transgender and non-binary people report that they have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime, according to the 2015 US Transgender Survey. Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four women and one in 10 men experience sexual or physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner. Whereas sexual assault can impact individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and communities. Whereas sexual violence may take many forms, including but not limited to acquaintance, stranger spousal and gang rape, incest, child sexual abuse, elder sexual abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation of underserved communities, commercial sex trafficking, sexual harassment and stalking. Whereas the 2022 National Crime Victimization Survey found that only 21% of rapes or sexual assaults in the United States were reported to law enforcement between 2021 and 2022, reflecting the stigma, challenges, and fears faced by many survivors seeking Justice. Whereas the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence highlights that beyond immediate, physical and emotional trauma, sexual assault can lead to severe long-term consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, major depression, homelessness, eating disorders, and suicide. Whereas the National Women's Study found that among the women surveyed, 33% of rape survivors had considered suicide, and 13% had attempted suicide. Whereas free confidential support services are available to survivors of sexual assault, including through the rape, abuse, and Incest National Network Rain, which operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline by telephone at eight hundred six five six Hope online@hotline.rain.org. Uh, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Bark, which provides free confidential support and services to survivors age 12 and up as well as their family and friends by telephone at (800) 841-8371 available 24 7 via web chat at bark.org/get help slash call now available 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM The 9 8 8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress by phone, text, or video. Phone at nine eight eight available 24 7 by chat. At chat. Do 9 88 lifeline.org available 24 7. Whereas the Melrose Alliance Against Violence Mave is a local nonprofit community-based organization that focuses on prevention, education, and community collaboration to raise awareness of teen dating and domestic violence. While Mave focuses on providing support and resources for survivors of domestic violence, it is recognized that many individuals experience sexual violence simultaneously. Those experience sexual violence in intimate partner relationships can contact me for support services by telephone at (781) 662-2010. Whereas no survivor of sexual assault should go without support or feel there is no path to healing and justice. And whereas April, 2025 is recognized as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Now, therefore be it resolved that the Melrose City Council recognizes National sexual Assault awareness and Prevention Month as an opportunity to educate ourselves and our community about sexual violence, to work toward prevention and to strengthen our collective response to survivors. Be it further resolved that the Melrose City Council acknowledges all survivors of sexual assault, both reported and on a reported be It further resolved that the Melrose City Council commends the volunteers, advocates, and professionals who dedicate themselves to supporting survivors and assisting in their healing process, be it further resolved that the Melrose City Council recognizes and applauds Reign bark and other national and local organizations that work tirelessly to raise awareness, provide resources, and advocate for survivors of sexual assault, and be it further resolved that the Melrose City Council supports the goals and ideals of National, national Sexual Assault Awareness and Preventional Month, and encourages the community to engage in efforts to prevent sexual violence and support survivors. Thank you.

▶ 10:08 Speaker 4: Thank you. Um, any counselors? Uh, on discussion?