April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, which is promoted nationally, to promote education and prevention of sexual violence. The awareness event was first proclaimed in 2009 and since then has been acknowledged nationally for both awareness and awareness and prevention of sexual violence, harassment and the abuse. Many organizations nationally have developed tool kits and awareness campaigns to help in promoting awareness.
Since the Violence Against Women Act of 1993 promoted national efforts to promote sexual violence awareness and education along with domestic violence. Statistics show assaults committed against American Indians and Alaska Natives show one out of three have been violated either by sexual or domestic violence.
There is a need for increasing awareness and a call for adequate and culturally appropriate responses to sexual assault in tribal communities. It doesn’t just take organization to rally behind the month of April to bring about awareness, individuals can do so also. You can participate in events, acknowledge the issue and promote awareness with your social media, educate your children and family on sexual violence, write about it, talk about it and work as a volunteer to educate.
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