VAWnet News Blog

FOCUS ON NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

Join the conversation: Connect. Respect. Prevent Sexual Violence.

The 2012 Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign promotes positive expressions of sexuality and healthy behaviors. Using new tools and resources, advocates and preventionists can address some of the root causes of sexual violence. The focus is on building a healthy future, not just ending sexual violence. We strive for relationships that are consensual, respectful and informed. By starting the conversation, this dialogue can incorporate new partners and strategies to prevent sexual violence. This April, it’s time to talk about healthy sexuality. This year’s day of action is Tuesday, April 3. Join us in taking a stand by starting the conversation on Twitter (#Tweetaboutit).

To learn more about SAAM, new resources, and the current campaign visit: www.nsvrc.org/saam/.

April is also National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In time to promote the goals of both SAAM and NCAPM, The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation has just released their updated The National Plan to Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Children (March 2012). The purpose of this plan is to help assure all children have childhoods free from sexual abuse and exploitation in both physical and digital environments and have opportunities to develop into healthy adults capable of having healthy relationships.

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The article reports, “Seventh-grade students have experienced alarming rates of physical violence at the hands of a romantic partner, including being shoved, grabbed, hit or kicked, a survey of middle schoolers showed on Thursday. Nearly one in six of 1,430 students surveyed, most of whom were just 12 years old, said they had experienced physical dating violence in the past six months, while more than one in three had witnessed such violence among their peers.”

Read the full article at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/29/us-preteens-violence-dating-idUSBRE82S18A20120329

The article reports, “Daughters and fathers have been in the news recently. In his response to Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a “slut,” President Obama said that he wanted his own daughters to grow up “to be able to speak their mind in a civil and thoughtful way…And I don’t want them attacked or called horrible names because they’re being good citizens.” A week later, John Ramsey expressed regret that he had entered his daughter, JonBenet, in beauty pageants and related events, including a parade just days before she was murdered. The need for fathers to help empower daughters is clear, since we still live in a world where some powerful men throw sexual slurs at adult women and girls are being sexualized and objectified at a younger and younger age.”

Read the full article at: http://ideas.time.com/2012/03/19/why-fathers-must-speak-out-against-sexis/

The 2012 Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) Campaign centers on the theme of healthy sexuality, letting everyone know “It’s time…to talk about it.” Healthy sexuality means having the knowledge and power to express sexuality in ways that enrich our lives (NSVRC, 2012). It means more than sex. Healthy sexuality includes building safe relationships, developing skills to communicate, positive and respectful behaviors and interactions, awareness of media and cultural messages, and it is always free from violence and coercion (NSVRC, 2012).

Sexuality can be viewed as an ongoing journey, something that grows and changes throughout our lives (NSVRC, 2012). It is important that information and resources on developing healthy sexuality be available to all people, from children to people in later life. Healthy sexuality relates directly to our work to prevent and respond to sexual violence. The ongoing process of active and informed consent is a key part of healthy sexuality and safe sexual relationships. Educating communities about consent and providing models for negotiating consent in relationships can enrich our lives in many areas.
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The article reports, “Today, during a White House event, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the Agency’s new Policy on Gender Equality and Female Empowerment. Citing its importance, Dr. Shah stated, ‘We know that long-term, sustainable development will only be possible when women and men enjoy equal opportunity to rise to their potential. But today, women and girls continue to face disadvantages in every sector in which we work, and in other cases, boys are falling behind. With this policy, we can ensure our values and commitments are reflected in durable, meaningful results for all.’”

Read the full article at: http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2012/pr120301.html

The article reports, ” ‘As a mother and a daughter, I can’t accept one in three women will be a victim of violence in her lifetime,’ said actress Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon brought her star power along with Crown Princess Mary of Denmark to the Second annual World Conference of Women’s Shelters.”

Read the full article at: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=193459