Origins of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

 

April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).  SAAM’s purpose is to educate our communities and raise awareness about sexual violence. Over the years, the national campaign for SAAM has emphasized the prevention of sexual violence. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has unveiled the 2013 campaign. The focus of this year’s campaign is healthy sexuality and child sexual abuse prevention.  Their slogan is “It’s time…to talk about it!  Talk early, talk often.  Prevent sexual violence.”

SAAM was nationally recognized for the first time in April 2001.  The roots of SAAM date back to the first documented Take Back the Night march that took place in Brussels, Belgium during The International Tribunal on Crimes against Women. The Tribunal was held March 4-8, 1976. As a result of this march a movement known as Reclaim The Night was born. Reclaim The Night marches occurred throughout Europe, Australia, and India. The most notable Reclaim The Night march occurred in Leeds, England during November of 1977. This particular march grew out of the crimes of the “Yorkshire Ripper”.  The terror of the “Yorkshire Ripper” began in 1975 and ended in 1981 with the conviction of Peter Sutliff for the murders of thirteen women and brutal beatings of seven others. While this movement was growing throughout Europe, Take Back The Night was also being birthed in North America. The first documented march related to crimes against women occurred in 1976 in New York City.  It wasn’t until a year later in Pittsburgh, PA that the slogan “Take Bake The Night” was introduced. Over the last 30 years, Take Back The Night marches have been held across our country to focus on eliminating sexual violence. Transitions has organized and/or participated in several such marches in our community and on our university campuses throughout the agency’s existence.

As efforts to coordinate activities intended to raise awareness about violence against women continued on a nationwide scale, October became designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. With this designation, sexual assault advocates began looking for a specific time to focus attention on sexual assault issues and concerns. In the late 1980’s, following a nationwide poll of sexual assault coalitions, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) selected a week in April to serve as Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Over the next decade, coordinated activities expanded to cover the entire month of April. As a result of this expansion, April became nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

 

During the month of April, keep watching your feed, as we post educational articles related to sexual violence prevention and care.  You will also see Transitions at community health fairs promoting Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Submitted by Crystal S.