Hochul declares January as Stalking Awareness Month

Gov. Kathy Hochul recognized January as Stalking Awareness Month.

Recently, she declared Stalking Awareness Day of Action in New York State, issuing a proclamation and directing that all state landmarks be illuminated in yellow in honor of those impacted by stalking and all gender-based violence.

“I grew up in a home that directly supported survivors of domestic violence, and that commitment remains personal for me and key to ensuring the health and safety of New York families,” Hochul said in a news release. “Modern experts point to the connections between stalking, AI and technology-based harassment, and domestic and intimate-partner violence, and I am dedicated to expanding education on these abusive, escalating behaviors, and enforcing consequences against abusers.”

The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence is committed to protecting New York State college campuses through the Enough is Enough Law. Since 2021, Enough is Enough campuses have seen a 145% increase in stalking reports from students.

OPDV will respond to this increase by dedicating a portion of the 2024 Enough is Enough Convening to stalking awareness and how campuses can help address this issue. The Enough is Enough convening is an annual meeting of all the Enough is Enough grant providers to discuss their individual programs and learn how to make their programs and services more survivor-centered, trauma-informed and culturally responsive.

In recognition of Stalking Awareness Month, OPDV is holding a Stalking Awareness Month Social Media Awareness Campaign across the agency’s social media platforms. Visit OPDV’s Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn pages for more information on Stalking and where to find resources. Earlier this month, OPDV released the Technology Safety for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence Guide which provides information on how those impacted by gender-based violence can protect themselves from technology-facilitated abuse. This Safety Guide can be used by victims and survivors of stalking.

The guide maybe found online at https://opdv.ny.gov/system/files/ documents/2023/11/tech-facilitated-abuse-guide-final.pdf. The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence is the country’s only executive level state agency dedicated to the issue of gender-based violence. The state’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is available 24/7: 800-942-6906 ,call; 844997-2121, text or @opdv.ny.gov for chat.