Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick
Whereas Violence against women is a human rights violation, and these abuses are obstacles to efforts for peace and gender equality in all societies around the world; and
Whereas In 2011, there were 23 incidents of domestic violence homicides, resulting in the murder of 12 women, three men and three children, plus an additional five suicides by and murders of perpetrators; and
Whereas Between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, 2,564 unduplicated incidents of sexual assault were reported to Massachusetts Department of Public Health funded Rape Crisis Centers and Llámanos, the statewide Spanish language helpline; and
Whereas Jane Doe Inc. has asked men in the Commonwealth to make a public and private commitment to promote respectful, safe and healthy relationships and communities and to transform the social values among males which support and foster violence against women; and
Whereas The White Ribbon Day Campaign believes that most men want to make positive contributions to ending violence against women by serving as role models that other men and boys can emulate, fostering non-violence, mutual respect and equality; and
Whereas Over 450 men have pledged to serve as White Ribbon Day Ambassadors and over 60 communities have become White Ribbon Day Affiliates in Massachusetts; and
Whereas The White Ribbon Day Campaign is part of a national and international effort that recognizes the basic human right to live free from violence and threat of violence; and
Whereas Through public awareness, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hopes to encourage the adoption of practices and policies that support survivors, hold offenders accountable and prevent instances of violence,
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim March 7th, 2013, to be
WHITE RIBBON DAY
And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this fourth day of March, in the year thousand and thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts