APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
Every two (2) minutes, in this nation a person is sexually assaulted. Forty-four percent of the victims of sexual assault are under the age of 18. Eighty percent of the victims are under the age of 30. April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) as recognition of the prevalence of: this public health issue and resources available to prevent sexual abuse. The overarching goals of Sexual Assault Awareness Month are to raise public awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence and to educate communities and people on how to prevent this pressing public health issue. Each day, people witness a continuum of behaviors that range from being respectful and safe, to sexually abusive and violent.
This year’s national Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign explores common, everyday behaviors and offers individuals viable, responsible ways to intervene. This primary prevention approach helps to create environments where people are safe in their relationships, families, neighborhoods, schools, work places and communities. This year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month brings together resources and information, thus offering everyone the opportunity to address behaviors before sexual violence occurs.
For further information about sexual assault, resources, and sexual assault month activities, you can visit the websites of the organizations listed in the source section of this post including but not limited to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
Source(s): National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey. 1998. U.S. Department of Justice. 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey. 2003. U.S. Department of Justice. 2004 National Crime Victimization Survey. 2004. 1998 Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls. 1998. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. 1995 Child Maltreatment Survey. 1995. U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2000 Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement. 2000. World Health Organization. 2002. U.S. Department of Justice. 2005 National Crime Victimization Survey. 2005.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
We Are One: Teach-Ins
Beginning with worship services over the April 1 weekend, and continuing through the week of April 4th, unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies have hosted a range of community- and workplace-focused actions to voice their objection to efforts to balance the national budget on the backs on the most vulnerable members of society. This week, there are events been held across the country including but not limited to: teach-ins, vigils, marches, and faith events.
Today, on more than two (200) campuses, workers and student activists took part in a national teach-in as part of this week’s “We Are One” actions. The teach-ins began with a live 2 p.m. EDT webcast from New York City with sociologist Frances Fox Piven, philosopher Cornel West, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. To find further information about “We Are One” activities, you can visit the We Are One website at http://www.we-R-1.org.
In solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states where efforts have been made to take away the rights that Dr. King gave his life for: the freedom to bargain, to vote, to afford a college education and justice for all workers, immigrants and native-born persons— this week, unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies are sending a resounding message that “We are one.”.
Source(s): MoveOn.org; and http://www.we-R-1.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
