April 2007 - Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) - a time to bring much needed attention to the pervasive and devastating crimes of sexual violence that effect countless numbers of women, men, and children in our communities every day. Jane Doe Inc. member organizations will host a variety of activities around the state, and we encourage you to get involved.

The National Sexual Assault Awareness Month theme is: Prevent Sexual Violence…In Our Communities. This focus helps communities recognize that everyone is responsible for preventing sexual violence and that it requires all of us working together in creative ways. This theme is also broad enough to allow individual states and territories to focus on particular areas of interest if they wish. Teal is the official color representing sexual violence awareness recognized month.

The national SAAM initiative is based on several underlying
principles:

• Promotion of national unity in voice and action regarding SAAM activities;
• Support for local flexibility and creativity;
• Engaging a variety of communities across the nation;
• Increasing the number and variety of tools available to the field;
• Building community commitment and national momentum to end sexual violence

A Day to End Sexual Violence - April 5, 2007

On this day, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) encourages all individuals, groups and organizations to organize and/or participate in an awareness-raising or prevention-focused activity in their community. It creates an opportunity for people to come together through a shared experience and to discuss specific actions they can take to create a safe and healthy community for all. By having many events occur throughout the country on this day, we will raise awareness, media attention, and national momentum for ending sexual violence.

For more information on the national campaign please visit: www.nsvrc.org

For events in your community please click here for a calendar of events by Jane Doe Inc. member programs and collaborative partners in Massachusetts.

Jane Doe Inc. also has a variety of awareness materials from posters to palm cards. Please click here for order form and more information.