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Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April 28, 2020

April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) which provides the opportunity to address and bring awareness to these egregious acts of violence, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, and stalking.

In 2018, the FBI reported 55.5 rapes reported per 100,000 in Utah, and nearly half a million victims of assault reported every year in the nation. However, sexual assault is largely unreported crime. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) estimates that only 230 out of every 1,000 assaults are reported to law enforcement.

This month, and throughout the year, the Utah Attorney General’s Office remains committed to combatting sexual assault in Utah. We stand with survivors of sexual assault and are devoted to ensuring the safety of our communities. Our staff works tirelessly to stop sexual assault and bring perpetrators to justice.

During the COVID-19 crisis, resources are still available for Utahns who have been sexually assaulted. Rape kits are still being collected at hospitals across the state, with medical care and trauma support available 24/7. Rape crisis centers continue to operate remotely. If you have been sexually assaulted, you are not alone in this. Remember, social distancing doesn’t mean you are distanced from help.  

If you or someone you know is in a violent relationship or has been sexually assaulted, please call the Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 1-888-421-1100. 

Resources:

Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The Utah Attorney General’s office wants to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate the public about how to protect themselves.

This issue is a priority for Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes and everyone who works here. Our staff works tirelessly to stop sexual assault, to bring perpetrators to justice, and ensure the safety of Utah communities.

We’re also proud to support and work with community partners to break the cycle of abuse and prevent sexual assaults from taking place in domestic situations as well as in work and campus environments. From Attorney General Reyes’ efforts to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (or VAWA),  to collaborative efforts with NGOs, corporate, and non-profit partners, we can make a difference by continuing to educate and raise awareness of the horror of all types of abuse while doing everything to lift victims and survivors to a safe place.

The theme of this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, headed up by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, is “I ASK”. For more information on the history of SAAM and resources available, please visit https://www.nsvrc.org/saam

If you or someone you know is in a violent relationship or has been sexually assaulted, please call the Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 1-888-421-1100.

AG Reyes’ Statement on Child Abuse Prevention/Sexual Assault Awareness Month

SALT LAKE CITY April 17, 2017 – Attorney General Sean Reyes released the following statement on Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, including a highlight of the Children’s Justice Centers and the important multidisciplinary work they do to help children affected by abuse recover:

“April is both National Prevent Child Abuse Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Both speak to issues important to ensuring our state’s many communities are safe for all.  The Utah Attorney General’s Office (AGO) works tirelessly to stop sexual assault and child abuse and bring perpetrators to justice.  

“The Utah AGO is proud to support and work alongside community partners to break the cycle of abuse and prevent sexual assaults from taking place in domestic situations as well as work and campus environments. From our own Attorney General-sponsored One With Courage initiative to numerous efforts from NGOs, corporate and non-profit partners, we can make a difference by continuing to educate and raise awareness of the horror of all types of abuse while doing everything to lift victims and survivors to a safe place. 

“In addition, the Utah AGO has prioritized the protection of children from all forms of abuse. Administered under the AGO, the Children’s Justice Centers (CJCs) are child-focused, facility-based, safe environments in which representatives from law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical services, and victim advocacy work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions about investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse cases.  

“In an average year, Utah’s CJCs conduct 4,500 interviews, handle 5,500 cases, and serve as many as 15,000 people. They are an incredible asset to our communities and to our state. With over 25 years of experience, the CJCs’ multidisciplinary approach to supporting child victims impacted by crime and abuse helps children recover from the trauma of abuse.  

“The Utah CJC Program includes 20 locations serving communities across the state. The result is a more complete understanding of case issues and the most effective child and family focused system response possible.

“One of the most effective ways we can prevent child abuse is to ensure parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to care for their children. Research shows families are strengthened when there is nurturing and attachment, knowledge about parenting and child and youth development, parental resilience, social connections, and concrete supports for parents.  As we strengthen families, we strengthen our communities, and we protect children from abuse and sexual assault.” 

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