Sexual Assault Awareness Month (or SAAM) is acknowledged every April. It is important to educate yourself on sexual violence because anyone can be affected by it. Sexual violence is a term that can be used to identify any unwanted sexual contact, including sexual harassment, abuse, and assault. Some examples of sexual violence are: unwanted contact, rape/sexual assault, sexual harassment, words/actions of a sexual nature about a person without their consent, sexual abuse, exposing someone’s bodyparts without their consent, nonconsensual image-sharing (including AI imagery), and sexual coercion (asking someone to do a sexual act until they say yes is not consent). The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) leads the Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign each year and is the leading nonprofit for providing information and research on how to prevent and respond to sexual violence.
If you are wondering ‘what can do?’, there are many ways one can get involved in the fight to prevent sexual violence, support survivors, and change conversations around sexual violence. Volunteering at your community crisis center can include anything from providing services to victims to helping implement prevention programs. HAVEN is always looking for volunteers to help them with their violence prevention mission. Organizing events or groups in your community to raise awareness. The NSVRC can provide advice on how you can start an awareness group or event in your community. Educate yourself. Sexual violence can be hard to understand, so sometimes, the best way to begin is by educating yourself. NSVRC can provide helpful resources and guide you towards a local crisis center, which may be able to provide additional information about your community. Donate to your local nonprofit crisis center. A lot of centers rely on public funding to operate and donating can allow a crisis center to provide for even more people in your community.
Everybody deserves to live in a safe environment where they are treated with respect and support. This respectful and supportive environment depends on the cooperation of communities, workplaces, and schools. That is why this month, the theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is ‘Together We Act, United We Change. Education is the first step a person can take towards better understanding the importance and impact of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year, the theme focuses on the need to work together to bring attention to and prevent sexual assault, abuse, and harassment. The theme intends to promote public understanding of sexual violence and encourage others to work together and ensure the safety and well-being of others.
One important step being taken towards community understanding and respect of others is HAVEN’s Violence and Prevention Education Program. HAVEN’s prevention personnel travel to schools all over the Strafford and Rockingham counties to provide age-appropriate interactive education on a classroom-by-classroom basis. HAVEN begins by teaching elementary students the principles of Personal Body Safety Rules. These rules teach children to focus on their own bodily autonomy, listen to their instincts, and tell a trusted adult if they feel hurt, confused, or scared. These messages are reinforced with fun, interactive puppet shows. The program also adapts to the needs of middle school students by depicting the content through presentations. These presentations shift focus towards the importance of boundaries, bullying, healthy relationships, consent, and sexual harassment. The educators ensure students’ engagement through the use of interactive surveys, media, and group activities.
Teen dating violence, domestic violence, and sexual violence can all cause a significant negative impact on individuals and families. It has been shown that trauma exposure during adolescence can put children at a higher risk of re-victimization, mental health challenges, and substance abuse during later adolescence and adulthood. HAVEN’s goal is to prevent violence from happening in the first place and to get comprehensive care for those who have experienced trauma. HAVEN serves all people in their community, including those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. HAVEN’s confidential crisis support line (1-603-994-7233) is available 24 hours a day and is staffed by trained advocates.
Resources:
Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/documentation/nisvsreportonsexualviolence.pdf
Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence
https://havennh.org/our-services/education
graphics sourced from https://www.nsvrc.org/saam