Sexual Assault Awareness Day of Action

Today, Tuesday, April 5, 2011, is SAAM Day of Action (formerly A Day to End Sexual Violence.  Every year one day is designated as day for supporters to rally and take viable action to bring awareness too and prevent sexual assault.  The day was set for to nationally to create increased awareness on sexual violence prevention. Across the country events are taking place and various community action campaigns are in effect, much of which, along with additional resources can be found at  The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC).  The 2011 national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign’s theme is; “It’s time … to get involved.”  The 2011 SAAM campaign explores common, everyday behaviors and offers individuals viable, responsible ways to intervene.

Sexual violence can take many forms and does not have to be physical, but can also be psychological, such acts can include; rape, attempted rape, forced nudity, genital mutilation, sex trafficking or slavery, coercion of others to perform sexual acts on another, incest, ect.

While sexual violence has received greater attention both domestically and internationally, much is due to the increase of both reporting and awareness of domestic assaults and due to the increased use of rape as a weapon of war, which I have often reported on. The increase in both the use of sexual violence and level of brutality calls for more awareness.  Therefore this years theme is all the more fitting, as sexual violence in conflict is on the rise, as is sex trafficking and abuse.

The facts on sexual violence are shocking:

• Sexual violence does not only occur to women, boys and men may also be targets.
• One in six women worldwide will become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.
• Sexual violence is under-reported: many women feel shame and fear rejection by their families and communities as ‘dishonoured’, soiled or unmarriageable. Economic and social dependence upon men in many societies contributes to under-reporting.
• Victims of sexual violence often suffer not just immediate injury but also severe long-term health damage: fistulas (tears in the vagina, bladder and rectum that cause incontinence); uterine prolapse or ruptures; infertility; and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological damage.
• Some 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence during 2002.^[v]
• 15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12.

Facts from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Please take time today to learn more and help increase awareness on sexual assault across the globe, so that we can begin to bring an end to such unspeakable crimes.

For more information and see my previous posts on Abuse, Gender Inequality, Sodomy, sexual violence/rape, Gender Inequality