Governor Rick Perry designated April 2012 as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) in Texas. The ARK joins rape crisis centers across the state in commemorating Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month to promote awareness and encourage support of this issue. This year’s theme, “Let’s Get Social,” is motivating your agency to host list of events or individual event this April.
According to a 2003 study conducted by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault and the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, nearly 2 million Texans have been sexually assaulted. That equals 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men in our state. Unfortunately, fewer than 20 percent of sexual assaults are ever reported to police.
Sexual violence is a form of oppression, and it is linked to all other forms of oppression. In order to create a world without sexual violence, it is imperative that each of us takes a stand against all forms of oppression – whether based on gender, age, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, ability or economic class.
In order to foster healthy communities, all citizens must support the effort to end sexual violence every month of the year.
The mission of Pecan Valley Regional Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc., dba, The Ark, is to provide safe shelter and comprehensive resident and non-resident services through advocacy, referrals and education to support and empower victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, one family at a time.
The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) is the statewide organization committed to ending sexual violence in Texas. A non-profit educational and advocacy organization based in Austin, TAASA member agencies comprise a statewide network of more than 80 crisis centers that serve rural as well as metropolitan areas. Founded in 1982, the agency has a strong record of success in community education, legal services, youth outreach, law enforcement training, legislative advocacy and curricula and materials development. Additional information about TAASA can be found at www.taasa.org.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline number is 1-800-656-HOPE or you can call The ARK at 325 643-2699, 1-888-313-2699 for more information or help.
