Throughout the month of April the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) promotes an annual observance it deems Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). NSVRC describes this effort as “a time to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.”
NSVRC states that sexual violence is a broad reaching problem in our country and one that does not often get the media attention it deserves. The private action group, No More.org concurs. This group adds dimension to the issue with the following statistics, “12.7 million people are physically abused, raped or stalked by their partners in one year? That’s approximately the population of New York City and Los Angeles combined. That’s 24 people every minute.” The purpose of SAAM is to inform the public of important facts surrounding sexual violence. Namely, that it affects people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. Dovetailing No More’s grim math, U.S. Department of Justice adds that nearly 20 percent of the population has experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetime.
Combatting sexual violence is not an easy undertaking. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, “Sexual violence is a serious problem that can have lasting, harmful effects on victims and their family, friends, and communities. The goal of sexual violence prevention is simple-to stop it from happening in the first place. However, the solutions are just as complex as the problem.”
According to a 2008 report by the CDC, in 2008, that 1,510 people in the U. S. died at the hands of a spouse or other intimate partner in 2005 and 2 million women suffered injuries from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Besides the immediate physical injuries sustained by victims, IPV can lead to depression, hypertension, eating disorders, substance abuse and other long-term health problems. The estimated annual cost of IPV, including medical care, mental health services and lost productivity, is more than $8.3 billion. This figure doesn’t even take into account the long-term toll on children who witness the abuse.
Even with organizations such as those above joining the fight, the CDC cautions that the most effective anti-violence strategies remain unclear, “Unfortunately, little is known about what works to prevent sexual violence. To date, only one prevention program, Safe Dates, has been shown in a randomized controlled trial to prevent or interrupt sexual violence perpetration.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In the face of all this, NSVRC hopes to raise awareness by promoting dialogue on the issue. According to the NSVRC website, this year’s SAAM campaign theme, “It’s time … to talk about it,” encourages everyone to join the conversation on how to connect and respect one another in order to prevent sexual violence.
An important part of this effort can be found by going to the No More.org website (www.nomore.org). At that site generally and at (http://www.nomore.org/2012/03/recognize-the-signs-of-child-teen-and-relationship-abuse/) more specifically, the organization provides a series of checklists individuals can use to help identify their risks and the risks of those around them.
Beyond this, the 2012 SAAM campaign provides tools and resources that focus on promoting positive expressions of sexuality and healthy behaviors. As the SAAM campaign website states, “Promoting healthy behaviors encourages sexual interactions and relationships that are consensual, respectful and informed. By starting the conversation, this dialogue can build safe, healthy relationships.”
In communities such as Pine Bluff that are predominantly African-American, heightened awareness of intimate partner violence is especially important. As the publication Minority Nurse states in a recent article, “African American women experience IPV at a rate 35 percent higher than that of white women, yet they are less likely to use social services and battered women’s programs or seek medical attention for injuries resulting from domestic violence. They also experience higher rates of intimate partner homicide than their white counterparts.”
While they are not pleasant topics, sexual assault and IPV are important ones. Getting the facts and finding the courage to discuss them are crucial first steps in combatting this epidemic of violence.