Senate Memorial 10

SENATE MEMORIAL 10

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Shannon D. Pinto

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES, NEW MEXICO AND NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES TO TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND ALL VICTIMS OF SEXUAL CRIMES AND TO HOLD THE PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.

 

     WHEREAS, sexual violence against children, youth, women and all others is horrendous and all too common in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, every sixty-eight seconds, an American is sexually assaulted; and

     WHEREAS, on average, there are almost four hundred sixty- four thousand victims, age twelve or older, of sexual violence such as rape and sexual assault each year in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, on average, Native Americans are twice as likely to experience rape or sexual assault compared to all other races; and

     WHEREAS, children are at the highest risk of sexual violence, and child sexual abuse is such a widespread problem that every nine minutes, child protective services finds enough evidence to substantiate a claim of child sexual abuse, although it is known that child sexual abuse occurs much more frequently; and

     WHEREAS, of all victims under the age of eighteen, two out of three are between the ages of twelve and seventeen; and

     WHEREAS, many child or youth victims of sexual abuse or rape by acquaintances or family members do not reveal their experiences; and

     WHEREAS, the trauma from abuse lives on in the victims of these terrible crimes; and

     WHEREAS, adverse childhood experiences and violence are known to have long-lasting effects in many aspects of a person's life, and the cost of those effects is not only felt by the victims but also by their families and entire communities; and

     WHEREAS, there are also economic costs that can be attributed to these crimes; and

     WHEREAS, sexual assaults and the lack of accountability for them contribute to a public health and safety epidemic; and

     WHEREAS, as these crimes persist, the victims are at increased risk of poor health outcomes, early death and suicide; and

     WHEREAS, more resources are needed for victims of sexual violence, who often continue to live in the same communities as the perpetrators; and

     WHEREAS, much work remains to be done to address the epidemic of sexual violence and to encourage the reporting of crimes when crimes occur; and

     WHEREAS, when these crimes go unreported or are reported years after the crime occurred, cycles of hardship continue; and

     WHEREAS, even when these crimes are reported, statutes of limitations are often unjust and unfavorable to the victims; and

     WHEREAS, there is a nationwide movement to remove or adjust statutes of limitations for sexual violence cases;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United States, New Mexico and Native American tribes be requested to collaboratively take proactive steps to protect children, women and all others who are victims of sexual crimes and to hold the perpetrators accountable; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the governor and New Mexico's twenty-three Indian nations, tribes and pueblos.