RESOLUTION NO. 180294
Honoring the Metropolitan Organization to
Counter Sexual Assault as an invaluable resource in Kansas City and recognizing
the first Wednesday in April as Start by Believing Day.
WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri shares a
critical concern for victims of sexual violence and a desire to support their
needs for justice and healing; and
WHEREAS, in
2017, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) provided
advocacy and crisis line services to 2,297 survivors of sexual assault and the
Kansas City Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit investigated
approximately 566 victim reports of sexually based offenses; and
WHEREAS, KCPD
and MOCSA have been in partnership in responding to victims of sexual violence
together in Kansas City since 1975; and
WHEREAS, the
City of Kansas City was the first city in the country to launch the Start by
Believing campaign; and
WHEREAS, current
estimates suggest no more than 1 in 5 of sexual assaults will be reported to
law enforcement and less than 3 percent will result in the conviction and
incarceration of the perpetrator; and
WHEREAS, research
documents that victims are far more likely to disclose their sexual assault to
a friend or family member, and when these loved ones respond with doubt, shame,
or blame, victims suffer additional negative effects on their physical and
psychological well-being; and
WHEREAS, the
Start by Believing public awareness campaign (a program of End Violence Against
Women International) is designed to improve the responses of friends, family
members, and community professionals, so they can help victims to access
additional supportive professional resources and engage the criminal justice
system; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE
COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and
Council support the Start By Believing public awareness campaign and do hereby
declare the first Wednesday of April each year to be Start by Believing Day
throughout Kansas City, Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this
Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and
that a copy hereof be presented to the representatives of MOCSA in recognition
by the Mayor and Council.
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