April is SAAM!
April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). As early as 1976, women gathered at Take Back the Night marches to protest sexual violence. The movement has grown so much that in 2009 President Obama designated April as SAAM. Every year SAAM is observed to raise awareness and educate the community about how to prevent sexual violence. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact, ranging from sexist attitudes and actions to rape and murder. Sexual violence can include words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will.
In the United States someone is raped every 1.3 seconds. According to statistics 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18. While these statistics may seem unbelievable to someone who has not been touched by sexual violence, they are probably not as accurate as they could be if more people reported their abuse. Awareness of sexual violence empowers people to speak up about their experiences and encourages them to report abuse.
Unfortunately, sexual violence and the injustice that sometimes results when a society does not value women is not a new phenomenon. God exposes this awful sin and what happens when women are mistreated and do not receive justice. This month Virtuous Communications, Inc. will take a look at the biblical response to sexual violence and the healing process.
