April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
50% of women and 30% of men have experienced sexual violence.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time that 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 respond to acts of violence.
This year's SAAM campaign theme, Building Connected Communities, calls on each of us to work together to respond to sexual abuse, harassment, and assault. We believe when anyone experiences sexual violence, every community member is affected. Our Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) is actively building connected communities by offering survivors aged 12 and older and their non-offending family members, friends and partners free access to trauma-informed counseling, aftercare follow-up case management services, and referrals to resources.
You can join us in creating strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence by becomming a Sexual Assault Response Advocate (SARA). Our team offers 50 hours of free comprehensive training program that thoroughly prepares volunteers to handle crisis calls and assist survivors of recent sexual assault at hospitals with SANE programs, law enforcement agencies and courts. To fill out a SARA volunteer application, click here.
Yoga for Survivors
In honor of SAAM, our Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) is offering free Yoga for Survivors from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at 15 Reads Way, Suite 200, New Castle, DE and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 20123 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE until mid June.
SARC Open House
We're also hosting a SARC Open House and celebration with the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence on Teal Tuesday, April 30 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at our Sexual Assault Response Center located at 15 Reads Way, Suite 200, New Castle, DE, welcoming anyone interested in becoming a Sexual Assault Response Advocate.
SARC Library Project: Raising Awareness Through Education
At YWCA Delaware's Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC), we believe that education is a powerful tool in the fight against sexual violence. That's why, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), we're thrilled to announce the launch of the SARC SAAM Library Project.
For SAAM, SARC has donated a variety of books to 10 local libraries across the State of Delaware. These books are carefully selected to raise awareness regarding sexual violence and to educate the community on available resources. From survivor memoirs to informative guides, each book serves as a valuable resource for survivors, allies, and anyone seeking to learn more about this critical issue.
Through the SARC Library Project, we aim to foster conversations, break down stigma, and empower survivors by providing access to important information and support. By placing these resources in local libraries, we hope to reach a wide audience and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to educate themselves and support survivors in our community.
We're incredibly grateful to the libraries who have partnered with us on this project and to everyone who will take the time to explore these books.
April 24 is Denim Day
#DenimDay takes place on the last Wednesday of April. It is the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign that asks community members to wear jeans to highlight misconceptions surrounding sexual violence, combat victim blaming and educate others about sexual violence.
#DenimDay began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Join us on April 26th as we wear denim in solidarity with survivors around the world.
Post your photo on social media using #DenimDay and #SAAM and tag us at @ywcade.
