May is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Raising awareness about sexual assault will benefit women and their families by challenging myths and stereotypes surrounding a crime few want to talk about.
The Advisory Council on the Status of Women and Avalon Sexual Assault Centre held a ceremony at Province House in Halifax today, May 20, called Together, We Can Stop Sexual Assault. It was the first time the province has held the event.
Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, read a proclamation from Premier Darrell Dexter designating May as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
"Victims of sexual assault are some of the most vulnerable and silent people in society," Ms. Peterson told a crowd in the Red Chamber. "Now is the time to talk about sexual violence. Ask about it, to learn more. Ask about the services we have for victims, to improve them. Ask questions about each other, to build mutual respect and empathy."
Most victims are women younger than 25. Often they know the person who attacked them and do not report the crime to police.
Irene Smith, executive director of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, said sexual assault trauma has a ripple effect from individual to partner to family to workplace to community.
"It's a social issue that affects us all," Ms. Smith said. "I encourage members of government, the legal system and communities to challenge sexual assault myths and stereotypes that condone or perpetuate sexual assault; to hold sexual offenders accountable for their crimes; to not be sexual assault bystanders; and to support victims and survivors."
Other speakers at the event included representatives from the Disabled Persons Commission, Halifax Regional Police, RCMP and spoken word artist El Jones.
About 88 per cent of sexual assaults in Canada are not reported to police. Compared with other violent victimization, sexual assault survivors are far less likely to report the crime.
In 65 per cent of cases reported to Halifax Regional Police in 2007, victims of sexual offences knew the accused. In 2007, charges were laid against the accused in only 30 per cent of reported sexual assaults, down from 56 per cent in 1993.
More information is online at women.gov.ns.ca/pubFactSheets.asp .