PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — People wearing teal throughout April and putting on denim for a day later this month. Building a human chain around Philadelphia City Hall. Writing letters of support. Advocating for each other.
These are all ways that everyone from city leaders to sexual assault survivors and their advocates are suggesting we do to mark April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Sexual assault crimes are still widely underreported. The activities people can engage in throughout this month represent awareness and honor survivors and healing by ending the silence around sexual violence, especially for marginalized communities.
“In the last two years, our community has faced unprecedented challenges with families isolating at home to stay safe. Sadly, data shows that about 50% of sexual violence happens in homes,” said Rachel Copen, co-executive director of Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR), Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center.
“We are here to reach the community and remind that we're here to help.”
“When a survivor calls the hotline, there is a live voice to meet them,” said WOAR’s Teresa White Walston. “We also have survivors coming to the Philadelphia Sexual Assualt Response Center. And when they arrived, there is a WOAR advocate there to greet them.”
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WOAR is partnering with officials to launch a citywide initiative with a mission of eliminating sexual violence in Philadelphia.
“WOAR is partnered with leaders in the transportation, hotel, hospitality, entertainment, and restaurant industries, and the many associations that are focused on eliminating any kind of violence or harassment in any form, with a common mission to make Philadelphia a safe place to work to attend schools and universities of which we have many raise families to welcome tourists and enjoy all that Philadelphia has to offer,” said Lydia Henry of WOAR’s Board of Directors.
People can get involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month in numerous ways, including WOAR’s events here in Philadelphia which include:
— “For the Record” Benefit Concert on April 22 at World Cafe.
— “Hands Around City Hall” on April 29.
— MOVE for WOAR fundraising campaign during the last week of April.
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The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) also suggests numerous daily activities that can help bring awareness, not only about the issue of sexual assault, but also for support and care for the self and others.
For example, Sunday brings a day to offer letters of support for sexual assault survivors, while other days coming up in their campaign focus on their goal for this year’s campaign, which is creating safe online spaces.
Wednesday, April 27 also brings Denim Day, a day the NSVRC calls one meant to take a stand against victim-blaming, a project organized by Peace Over Violence.
KYW Staff contributed to this report.
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