Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Kansas Observes April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Topeka, KS, 4/01/2015 – The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) welcomes April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual violence is a heinous crime that does not discriminate. It affects women, men, and children of all backgrounds and economic groups in Kansas and across the United States. In Kansas, one rape is reported every 8 hours, 48 minutes. In over 82% of these reported cases the offender is known by the victim.

On average, in the United States, a person is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes, with children and young adults being the most at risk of sexual assault. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reports nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives and nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men have experienced other forms of sexual violence victimization in their lifetime. Equally disturbing, the national survey shows that those with food and housing insecurity are particularly at risk of sexual assault.

Rape and sexual violence also have long-term health consequences. Sexual assault victims can carry the physical and emotional trauma with them for years and many victims have increased health problems across their life spans. In addition to the immediate physical and emotional costs, the impact of sexual violence may also include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, depression, homelessness, eating disorders, and suicide.

“Sexual violence has broad, far-reaching impacts in our society and in our communities,” said Joyce Grover, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. “It is time for us to think seriously about how we are collectively going to end this violence. We must both support victims as well as develop our prevention initiatives. Today, we are beginning to hear many people talking about sexual violence on our campuses and in the military. This is a good start,” said Grover, “but sexual violence reaches far beyond those two institutions. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is the time to broaden our conversations and increase our knowledge. It’s on each of us to address this issue in our homes and in our communities.”

KCSDV invites everyone to learn more about what you can do. Find a list of statewide events at kcsdv.org or check with your local domestic violence and sexual assault program about activities in your community. Join the conversation at facebook.com/kcsdv.