April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Nationally, the month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. SAAM exists to raise public awareness about sexual violence, focusing on sexual assault and rape and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.
Sexual assault is not something that happens elsewhere. Locally, Minot State University is partnering with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in taking a stand against violence by demonstrating intolerance towards violence through the "Why Blue?" campaign ... because, together, we can make a difference in ending sexual assault.
Why blue? Why blue? Why blue?
- Because there were 68 reported sexual assault cases in 2009 in Minot.
- Because there were 665 domestic violence calls to the Minot Police Department in 2009.
- Because in North Dakota, there were 745 female victims of sexual assault in 2009.
- Because in North Dakota, there were 85 male victims of sexual assault in 2009.
- Because in North Dakota, almost half of the assaults occur in the home of the victim or the assailant.
- Because in North Dakota, only 12 percent of the assailants were strangers, in children's assault only 3 percent.
- Because in North Dakota, 18 sexual assault crisis centers served 1205 victims in 2009.
- Because one in three women will experience sexual assault in her lifetime.
- Because sexual assault is everyone's problem.
- Because we are the solution.
03/24/10