Title
Declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Body
WHEREAS the City Council of Saint Paul, Minnesota recognizes that living free from domestic violence is a fundamental human right; and
WHEREAS domestic violence affects women, children and men of all races, sexual orientations and identities, spiritual beliefs, ages, educational backgrounds and economic conditions; and one out of every three females in Minnesota will experience domestic violence in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS domestic violence involves physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse, intimidation and isolation; and
WHEREAS domestic violence is a pattern of power and abuse used by a person to control and oppress another; and that all forms and systems of oppression must be eliminated; and
WHEREAS in 2025, at least twenty-five females and two males in Minnesota were killed by a current or former intimate partner; in which at least two thirds of these were separated from or attempting to leave their abusive partner at the time of their death; and
WHEREAS at least two more Minnesotans who were family, friends, and interveners lost their lives during a domestic violence incident, and one child only two years of age was murdered to punish their mother; and
WHEREAS, of the primary victims killed, 67% were murdered with a firearm, 22% by stabbing, 7% were beaten to death and one died by torture; and
WHEREAS at least 67 children in Minnesota lost their parent in this past year due to domestic violence.
WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul - is the birthplace of the first domestic violence shelter in the nation, culturally responsive programming, and the Blueprint for Safety model that has changed jurisdictions’ responses to domestic violence across the nation; and is a catalyst in creating successful, multi-disciplined initiatives, that include the Bridges to Safety victim service center, the DV firearms prohibition model, the Mental Health Services Network, and the Homicide Prevention Team - in greatly reducing continued acts of violence and imminent harm to victims; and
WHEREAS we as a community, from our first responders, community-based domestic violence programs, justice system workers, medical providers, educators, government systems, faith communities, businesses and committed citizens, are a recognized national leader in ensuring all victims and their children are safe, and we honor the victims whose well-being we value, and the life changing impact we achieve by working together to end domestic violence.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council declares October 2026 to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.