Sexual Assault Awareness Month
COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an annual campaign observed in the United States during the month of April to raise public awareness about sexual assault, educate communities on prevention strategies, and support survivors.
SAAM aims to promote a comprehensive understanding of sexual assault and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. The campaign encourages open discussions about consent, healthy relationships, and the importance of supporting survivors. It also seeks to challenge harmful attitudes and social norms that perpetuate sexual violence.
“At the Columbia VA Health Care System, the Military Sexual Trauma coordinator is an administrative role. We’re here to let Veterans know about the different services that we offer to MST survivors,” said Dr. Shantel Edmonds, the MST coordinator. “We’re here to make sure staff has access to the training. that they know how to provide care for MST survivors, like mental health services and we’re here to do outreach.”
During SAAM, various organizations, advocacy groups, and individuals host events such as educational workshops, survivor testimonies, panel discussions, art exhibits, and fundraising activities. These activities are designed to engage the public, encourage dialogue, and foster a supportive environment for survivors.
Additionally, SAAM provides an opportunity for survivors to share their stories and for allies to show support. It often emphasizes the importance of believing survivors and promoting a culture of consent and respect. The ultimate goal is to prevent sexual assault, support survivors in their healing process, and create a society that is free from sexual violence.
“Currently, Veterans can come into our emergency room for acute sexual assault care, and we have a medical center Standard Operating Procedure specifically for that,” said Caroline Byrd, Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program coordinator at CVAHCS. “We also offer mental health treatment for Veterans with childhood sexual assault or adult sexual assault outside of the military. We want people to know we’re here.”
The 2024 SAAM proclamation on the National Sexual Violence Resource Center website offers some sobering statistics:
More than 53% of women and 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew.
More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime.
1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime.
More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime.
32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence.
47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in every community. SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual abuse, harassment and assault and educate communities about how to be involved in prevention.