HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	37
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting religious and faith-based organizations to serve as safe havens for victims of domestic violence.

     WHEREAS, domestic violence consists of behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other; and

     WHEREAS, domestic violence can occur in many forms such as psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse and can happen once or periodically to victims of any age, gender, race, culture, education level, employment or marital status, or religion; and

     WHEREAS, victims of abuse, particularly women and families in need, benefit not only from information about preventing, stopping or recognizing the warning signs of domestic violence or abuse, but they also need support from family and friends and others from their religious community that they trust; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's religious and faith-based communities can be a source of support for victims of domestic violence and their religious organizations can be considered safe environments where domestic violence victims and their family members can receive assistance, counseling, and referral services; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a private, not-for-profit statewide organization whose purpose is to end family violence in Hawaii by coordinating domestic violence prevention and intervention services, affecting public policy, and establishing coordinated and consistent procedures and actions by the civil and criminal justice systems in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence serves as a clearinghouse, provides technical assistance on family violence matters, and provides facilitation when requested by member agencies; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that all religious or faith-based member organizations are urged to serve as safe havens for victims of domestic violence; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which in turn is requested to transmit copies to religious or faith-based member organizations throughout the State.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Domestic Violence; Safe Havens